Piper PA23 accident near Albemarle, North Carolina, March 5, 2020
On March 5, 2020 at about 6:22 pm local time, a 1962 Piper PA23, registered N335W, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Albemarle, North Carolina (Stanley County airport). It was an instructional 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 pilots' failure to ensure that the electric fuel pumps were on before takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of power on both engines during initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2020 · about 6:22 pm local time
- Place
- Albemarle, North Carolina · Stanley County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA23 250, built 1962 · all PA23s on the register
- Registration
- N335W · no longer on the register · serial 27-3017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The owner of the multiengine airplane was receiving a check out in the airplane from the flight instructor. During the initial climb, about 200 ft above ground level, the instructor noticed a decrease in airspeed and the pilot receiving instruction stated that both engines were losing power. The instructor immediately confirmed that the mixture levers were full rich and that the propeller and manifold levers were full forward. He also turned on the electric fuel pumps, which had not been turned on before takeoff. With insufficient runway remaining on which to land, the pilots continued over trees at the end of the runway before landing in a field. The instructor further stated that the electric fuel pump switches were on the far left of the instrument panel and he was unable to see their position before the loss of engine power. He added that he believed that the loss of engine power was the result of the electric fuel pumps being off. Examination of the engines, fuel systems, ignition systems, and induction systems did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, and examination of fuel samples from each fuel tank and both engine fuel sumps did not reveal any anomalies. Subsequent testing of the left and right engine mechanical fuel pumps revealed that they operated within specifications. Review of checklists in an owner's manual and airplane flight manual for the airplane make and model revealed instructions in both to use the electric fuel pumps during takeoff. Thus, it is likely that the pilot receiving instruction did not turn on the electric fuel pumps, which were located on his side of the instrument panel, before takeoff, and the instructor did not ensure that they were on.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 31, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,019 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 689 as pilot in command; 632 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 22, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,027 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2020; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 4,027 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 4,027 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VUJ Albemarle NC at 6:22 pm
- Destination: VUJ Albemarle NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04R, 5,499 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from VUJ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on June 10, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from AFM and Owner's Manual | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Mechanic Statement Regarding Engine Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Correspondence Regarding Testing of Mechanical Fuel Pumps | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N335W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.