On June 18, 2000, a Piper PA-16 (registration N5995H) operated by Louis H. Parah was involved in an aviation accident near Vancouver, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to determine the aircraft's airworthiness before flight, resulting in operation of the aircraft in an unairworthy condition and consequent fuel starvation, and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed in an emergency turn back… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot washed an aircraft and took it for a flight without owner permission to dry it. The aircraft had an unapproved fuel tank installation and was out of annual. The engine failed after takeoff, and the aircraft impacted the ground.
Accident Summary
A pilot reported that after washing an aircraft, he decided to take it once around the airfield to dry it off. The pilot did not seek or receive the aircraft owner's permission for this flight. During the flight, about 200 feet above ground level after takeoff, the aircraft's engine quit. The pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not revive in time. He attempted to turn back toward the field, but the aircraft lost lift and impacted the ground.
Pilot Actions
The pilot did not determine that the aircraft was out of annual or that it incorporated an as-yet unapproved fuel tank installation. He also reported that he did not have a current required flight review and that he had not flown as pilot-in-command in the last 10 years.
Aircraft Condition
The fuel tank installation had not yet received FAA approval since the non-standard tank was failing tank drain tests, introducing the potential for the tank drain port to become unported at extreme flight attitudes. FAA inspectors who examined the airplane after the accident reported they found fuel aboard and no evidence of any mechanical problems with the engine.