# Accident 19980227002229A: Piper PA28R180, Toledo, OH, February 27, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 1998, 19:04 local time
- Place: Toledo, OH
- Airport: Metcalf Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.6005° N, 83.3392° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6005&lon=-83.3392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4679J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4679J-2017-05-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B1E
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 573 total, 479 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980227002229A

## Narrative

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

RAN OUT OF FUEL AT NIGHT. STRUCK WIRES ON FORCED LANDING. WAS HALF MILE SHORT OF TDZ INTENDED FUEL LOW AIRPORT. (.4)WHEN THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE, HE OBSERVED THE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK WAS EVEN WITH THE POINT WHERE THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK MET THE OUTBOARD VERTICAL WALL OF THE TANK, WHICH HE ESTIMATED WAS 13 GALLONS.  HE OBSERVED THE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK TO BE LEVEL WITH A POINT ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE OUTBOARD VERTICAL WALL, ALONG THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE TANK, WHICH HE ESTIMATED WAS 7-8 GALLONS.  THE PILOT THEN FLEW A 30 MINUTE FLIGHT STOPPING AT SANDUSKY, OHIO, TO PICK UP A PASSENGER.  DURING THE SECOND TAKEOFF UNDER DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE PILOT TOLD THE PASSENGER TO EXPECT THE ENGINE TO QUIT BECAUSE HE PLANNED TO RUN THE FUEL OUT OF THE LEFT TANK, AND SAVE THE RIGHT TANK FOR THE APPROACH. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE QUIT.  THE PILOT SWITCHED TANKS AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN QUIT AGAIN WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 7,700 FEET.  THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING NOTICING WIRES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND 'DOVE SHARPLY TO AVOID THEM' WITHOUT SUCCESS.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A LOWER SE                                      T OF WIRES ON APPROACH TO A FILED. EXAMINATION FO THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT AND CONTAINED ABOUT 1/2 QUART OF FUEL EACH.  THE AIRPLANE'S USEABLE FUEL CAPACITY WAS 48 GALLONS, AND ACCORDING TO RANGE CHARTS, THE ENGINE'S FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE WAS 8.1 GALLONS PER HOUR AT 70% POWER.  THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 5.91 HOURS SINCE ITS LAST REFUELING.                                                             (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #NYC98LA069

## 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 NYC98LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA069), Feb 28, 1998: Piper PA28R-180 (N4679J), Walbridge, OH, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft resulting in fuel exhaustion, and his unsuccessful attempt to clear the wires. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight, dark night…

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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