General Aviation Aircraft Crashes in Residential Area After Engine Failure (N3976R)

Incident Overview and Initial Contact A pilot operating a Piper PA-28-180 contacted Charlotte Approach Control and requested assistance. The aircraft was radar-identified, and the controller provided the location of the airport. Shortly after, radar and radio contact with the aircraft was lost. Police soon notified approach control that the aircraft had crashed in a residential area. No property damage or injuries to persons on the ground were reported. ## Passenger Account and Wreckage Examination Passengers reported that they were returning from Florida when the engine cut off minutes from the runway. The engine restarted and ran for approximately 20 seconds before shutting down again and failing to restart. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel system was not breached, the fuel pump switch was in the 'ON' position, and the fuel selector was set to the left tank. No fuel was found in the tanks or fuel lines, and there was no evidence of fuel spillage in the crash area. Approximately one ounce of clean fuel, free of foreign matter, was drained from the fuel sediment bowl. ## Fuel History and Flight Data The last known fuel input occurred shortly before midnight on May 6, 1997, in Jacksonville, Florida. The engine examination revealed no discrepancies. According to the Piper PA-28-180 manual, the aircraft's fuel consumption was approximately 13.5 gallons per hour. The aircraft had a total fuel capacity of 50 gallons, with 48 gallons usable. The distance flown from the last refueling was approximately 450 miles, with a flight duration of about 4 to 5 hours. ## Pilot Statement and Timeline The pilot's NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was received on September 4, 1997, after several attempts to obtain it. The pilot stated that he landed at Fernandina Beach Airport, Florida, on May 6, 1997, to purchase fuel, then continued to Fort Lauderdale, arriving around 1800. He returned to the FBO around 2200 and filled the plane with fuel before heading to Charlotte. The flight stopped at Jacksonville, where the pilot stated he filled the airplane again. The pilot recalled departing Jacksonville between 0300 and 0330. The pilot noted that his memory ended after becoming airborne until approximately three and a half weeks later.