20040407005199A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-38-112 · Mckinleyville, CA · April 7, 2004

Date: April 7, 2004 · 18:10 local
Place: Mckinleyville, CA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2609F
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04CA181
Reported as: Piper PA38112
Reported engine: Lycoming O235*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 70 total60 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N2609FRegistration cancelled Jan 12, 2010 · Piper PA-38-112S/N 38-79A0494 · Built 1979 Airframe modelPiper PA-38-112 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot estimated she had 5 hours and 13 minutes of fuel for the flight per her planning. Midway between garberville and arcata the fuel gauges began fluctuation between 3 gallons and red line. Pilot contacted settle center for assistance, but had problems with radio reception. Aircraft was at 8,500 and began to glide for 5-10 minutes. Aircraft ran out of fuel and struck a tree and flipped over end and landed on the landing gear causing great damage to the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT ESTIMATED SHE HAD 5 HOURS AND 13 MINUTES OF FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT PER HER PLANNING. MIDWAY BETWEEN GARBERVILLE AND ARCATA THE FUEL GAUGES BEGAN FLUCTUATION BETWEEN 3 GALLONS AND RED LINE. PILOT CONTACTED SETTLE CENTER FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT HAD PROBLEMS WITH RADIO RECEPTION. AIRCRAFT WAS AT 8,500 AND BEGAN TO GLIDE FOR 5-10 MINUTES. AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND STRUCK A TREE AND FLIPPED OVER END AND LANDED ON THE LANDING GEAR CAUSING GREAT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04CA181Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMcKinleyville, CAa loss of engine power due fuel exhaustion, which was caused by the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, inadequate in-flight fuel consumption calculations, and failure to divert to an alternate airport before the fuel situation became critical.…Apr 8, 2004 · Substantial damage