ATL83LA173

Factual narrative

SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT ON THE MORNING OF 4/30/83, THE FLT ORIGINATED AT BLACKSBURG, VA. NEITHER THE TIME EN ROUTE NOR THE ARRIVAL TIME AT GAITHERSBURG, MD WAS REPORTED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE DEPARTED FROM GAITHERSBURG AT 1050 EDT. THE FLT WAS NORMAL UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER PASSING LEXINGTON, VA, WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. HE DIVERTED TOWARD LYNCHBURG, VA, BUT THE REMAINING FUEL WAS VIRTUALLY EXHAUSTED BEFORE ARRIVAL. AFTER THE ENG QUIT, THE PLT DID NOT MOVE THE POSITION OF THE THROTTLE OR MIXTURE CONTROL. DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY, THE ACFT STRUCK SEVERAL OBJECTS. THE PLT SAID THAT AFTER IMPACT, THE ENG STARTED RUNNING & ACCELERATED THE ACFT ACROSS THE ROAD, THRU A FENCE & INTO A RESIDENTIAL YARD. DURING THE OCCURRENCE, THE WINGS WERE DAMAGED BY A ROAD SIGN & A TREE, THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED & SEVERAL MAIL BOXES & A VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT NOTED THAT THE RGT FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE & THE ENG QUIT AFTER APRX 4 HRS. AT 75% POWER ACFT WOULD USE 33.4 GAL. USABLE FUEL, 36 GAL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12