Piper PA-31-325 accident near Weaverville, North Carolina, July 14, 2002
On July 14, 2002 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-325, registered N27626, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weaverville, North Carolina (Ashville Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning of fuel to complete the flight that resulted in the exhaustion of the fuel supply.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2002 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Weaverville, North Carolina · Ashville Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-325 · all PA-31-325s on the register
- Registration
- N27626 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7812068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight at 12,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) the right engine lost power. The pilot reported the loss of engine power to the Atlanta Air Traffic Control Center. The pilot was instructed by the controller to turn around and proceed to the Ashville Regional Airport. As the pilot maneuvered the left engine lost power. The pilot was directed by the controller to a highway 19 & 23. The airplane collided with trees short of the highway. Examination of the fuel system found both fuel tanks void of fuel and no visible of fuel loss at the accident site. The pilot reported departing with approximately 90 gallons of fuel on board. According to PA-31-325 specifications, the standard fuel quantity is 183 gallons, and the optional fuel capacity is 237 gallons.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 580 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 545 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 2001; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3J1 Ridgeland SC at 6:30 pm
- Destination: GCY Greeneville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from AVL, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.