# Accident 19960912034459A: Piper PA31350, Janesville, WI, September 12, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 1996, 21:15 local time
- Place: Janesville, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BAKA
- Location: 42.6807° N, 89.0101° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6807&lon=-89.0101&mi=10
- Aircraft: N27299, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27299) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,500 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA335) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960912034459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD A TRIP IN THE MORNING. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS RUNNING LATE AND WAS IN A HURRY.  HE NEGLECTED TO CHECK THE NACELLE TANKS FOR FUEL, BUT HE DID CHECK THE MAIN AND AUXILIARY TANKS WHICH WERE FULL.  HE REPORTED THAT HE MISTAKENLY THOUGHT HE HAD FUEL IN THE NACELLE TANKS.  HE COMPLETED THE TRIP AND WAS RETURNING TO JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN.  ABOUT 12 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT BOTH ENGINES QUIT AND HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT REFUELER REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT REFUEL THE NACELLE TANKS.  HE REPORTED HE WAS TOLD TO TOP OFF THE MAIN AND OUTBOARD TANKS.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS.                                                                  (-23) WHILE DEAD HEADING BACK TO HOME BASE (JVL) AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP IN A HAYFIELD DAMAGING ENGINES, PROPS AND BELLY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. PILOT CONFIRMS FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA335), Sep 13, 1996: Piper PA-31 (N27299), Janesville, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: fuel exhaustion as a result of an inadequate preflight by the pilot in command.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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