Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA86FA112

HOMESTEAD, FL, USA

Aircraft #1

N55WE

PIPER PA-31-350

Analysis

THE FLT WAS NEARING COMPLETION OF A 4.2 HR X-COUNTRY FLT & WAS APRX 7 MILES FROM THE DEST WHEN BOTH ENGS QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FORCED LDG WAS PERFORMED. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED WITH A FULL FUEL LOAD OF 182 GALS. THE ACFT OWNER STATED THAT FUEL CONSUMPTION AVERAGED ABOUT 44 GALS PER HR. AT THAT RATE, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE CONSUMED APPROX 185 GALS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT STATED THAT A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT HE HAD BEEN RECENTLY FLYING ANOTHER PA-31 WHICH HAD A GREATER FUEL CAPACITY DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF AUX FUEL TANKS & HE MAY HAVE SUBCONSCIOUSLY THOUGHT THAT HE HAD MORE FUEL THAN HE ACTUALLY HAD.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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