That is one of my favorite airports to fly to on the proverbial $100.00 hamburger run. It is a neat approach.

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Originally posted by rscalzo:

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The plane contained about 45 gallons of fuel when it crashed

That isn't a lot of fuel for that airplane. The standard aztec holds 144 gallons.

Will be interesting to see if the engine failure was the result of fuel mismanagement.

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Originally posted by pbramlett:

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Originally posted by rscalzo:

quote:

The plane contained about 45 gallons of fuel when it crashed

That isn't a lot of fuel for that airplane. The standard aztec holds 144 gallons.

Will be interesting to see if the engine failure was the result of fuel mismanagement.

250 / 260 hp engines probably burning somewhere around 13 gph each, so 45 gallons on board is in the neighborhood of 1:45. Almost two hours. Fuel exhaustion probably not a factor. Mismanagement, maybe. It has been years since I last flew an Aztec. If memory is correct, there are two tanks on each side, total of four. Possibly trying to feed from an empty tank, while another has plenty of fuel? That has certainly happened in the past. That should be easy enough to determine in the "post mortem."

Two of the 3 on the plane were flight instructors.

http://www.knoxnews.com/story/...structors/970422001/

Two flight instructors were apparently among three people that made up the crew of a small plane that crashed in the driveway of an East Knoxville home Tuesday.

The Knoxville Police Department identified the crew as Gerald Marotta, Michael Spinazzola and Robert Gintz, all from the Knoxville area.

The three men managed to get out of the plane on their own after the crash at 1114 Groner Drive, but were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. An update on their conditions was not immediately available Wednesday.

According to his Facebook page, Jerry Marotta is a "Gold Seal flight instructor." He is also listed as an approved flight instructor at the Sky Ranch East Tennessee Pilots Club.

According to his LinkedIn page, Bobby Gintz is also a flight instructor. His page says he is FAA certified and is a commercial pilot with 30 years of flying experience and "a passion for all things related to aviation."

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the plane is registered as a 1973 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec, a twin-engine plane that can carry up to six people. It is registered to Lakelizard Aviation Training Co. in Seymour.

The FAA arrived at the scene Wednesday morning to begin an investigation, according to an email from KPD Sgt. Sammy Shaffer.

The agency is working with an aircraft salvage company on the removal of the aircraft and further investigation of it. Shaffer said the investigation "should take some time."