Piper PA-28-181 accident near Florence, SC
On January 1, 1997, a Piper PA-28-181 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Florence, SC. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 1, 1997
- Place
- Florence, SC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.181°N, 79.779°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07327
NTSB summary
On January 1, 1997, about 1505 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered to Enterprise Seven Leasing Inc., operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power while on an instrument approach to Florence Regional Airport, Florence, South Carolina, and crashed into a residential area. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot/pilot-in-command (PIC), and a private pilot occupying the left front seat reported serious injuries. One passenger sustained serious injuries, and the other passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Miami, Florida, about 4 hours 22 minutes before the accident. The PIC stated he filed an IFR flight plan listing himself as the PIC. They departed Miami en route to Savannah, Georgia, with the private pilot flying the airplane. Upon reaching Jacksonville, Florida, he checked weather and requested a clearance direct to Florence, South Carolina. They were handed off to Florence Approach Control about 20 miles south of Florence. The left fuel gauge indicated 5 to 6 gallons of fuel. The right fuel gauge was empty. They were cleared for the ILS approach, and handed off to Florence tower. The left fuel gauge indicated about 3 gallons of fuel remaining. They were established on the localizer course and just inside the outer marker at 1,800 feet, 4.6 miles from the runway when the engine started to sputter. The private pilot turned the boost pump on, switched fuel tanks, rocked the wings and pumped t
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's improper management of fuel resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
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Browse: South Carolina · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
