Preliminary Plane Crash Report Released by NTSB Regarding Vinoy Park Incident
September 24, 2014
NTSB Identification: ERA14LA440
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, September 15, 2014 in St. Petersburg, FL
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28-180, registration: N15833
Injuries: 2 Serious,2 Minor.
On September 15, 2014, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N15833, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain, following a total loss of engine power while maneuvering for landing at Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida. The foreign rated pilot seated in the left front seat and the pilot-rated passenger seated in the right rear seat were seriously injured, the pilot seated in the right front seat and the passenger seated in the left rear seat received minor injuries. The airplane was owned by Advanced Technology Training, LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida, about 0830.Initial examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest upright on the nose and right main landing gear, in a neighborhood park. The left wing was impact separated and was located in the vicinity of the main wreckage and initial tree strikes. Flight control continuity was confirmed to the elevator from the control column located in the cockpit. The wing flaps were in the full extended position. The fuel selector valve, located in the cockpit, was selected to the left fuel tank position. Neither fuel tank appeared to be breeched; however, approximately 12 ounces of fuel was extracted from the left fuel tank and approximately 80 ounces of fuel was extracted from the right fuel tank. No blight was observed on the vegetation in the vicinity of the wreckage except for an approximate 6 inch circle located near the initial ground impact location.
Examination of fuel records at TLH revealed that the airplane did not purchase fuel after it arrived on September 14, 2014. However, fuel records were located at a fixed base operator at the Pensacola International Airport (PNS), Pensacola, Florida, time stamped September 14, 2014, at 1506. According to a copy of the fuel ticket 25 gallons of fuel was requested in each fuel tank, and the fuel receipt indicated 39.8 gallons of fuel was purchased, which according to the fueler, filled the fuel tanks.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.