# Accident 19971113040339A: Piper PA28180, Willmar, MN, November 13, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 13, 1997, 17:45 local time
- Place: Willmar, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.1200° N, 95.0392° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1200&lon=-95.0392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8886J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8886J-2012-09-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- Reported engine: LYC O360A3A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 200 in this make and model, 73 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971113040339A

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE: DPT PUEBLO, CO FOR WILMAR, MN CLIMBED TO 11500. PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED, ENCOUNTERED ICE AND RAN OUT OF FUEL. LEFT MAIN GEAR, LEFT WING, NOSE GEAR, RIGHT FUEL SELECTED, FORWARD FIREWALL BUCKLED. A/W CERT.-11/8/65 REG. 4/17/97. ANNUAL---7/26/97 @ 2660.59 91.13(A), 91.151(A)(1), 91.155(A) CARELESS AND RECKLESS OPERATION OF AN AIRCRAFT. FAILURE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FUEL FOR INTENDED FLIGHT. OPERATION OF AN AIRCRAFT WITH LESS THAN MINIMUM VFR CONDITIONS. (-23) DPT PUEBLO, CO FOR WILMAR, MN, CLIMBED TO 11500. PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED, ENCOUNTERED ICE AND RAN OUT OF FUEL. LEFT MAIN GEAR, LEFT WING, NOSE GEAR, RIGHT FUEL SELECTED, FORWARD FIREWALL BUCKLED.

## 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 CHI98LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA036), Nov 13, 1997: Piper PA-28-180 (N8886J), Willmar, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper planning/decision, his continued flight into known adverse weather, and subsequent fuel exhaustion, which resulted in loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Factors related…

## Other reports on N8886J (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19760523015339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760523015339A), May 23, 1976: Piper PA28180 (N8886J), Tucson, AZ. Pilot struck on head by propeller. Master & l mag switches found in on pos. No witnesses.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.