Piper PA-32 accident near Bolivar, Tennessee, March 27, 1990
On March 27, 1990 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32, registered N5524J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bolivar, Tennessee (Belivar-Hardeman airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY SELECT A TANK WITH SUFFICIENT FUEL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1990 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Tennessee · Belivar-Hardeman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N5524J · no longer on the register · serial 32-983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 300 FT OVER THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING AND WAS DAMAGED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT PLACED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO A TANK WITH SUFFICIENT FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT HAD ABOUT 45 GAL OF FUEL AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AND BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW HAD BOTH EXPIRED.
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: 4,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,512 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1990; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: TGC Trenton TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MKL, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.