20040517035509A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J4E · Ferndale, MT · May 17, 2004

Date: May 17, 2004 · 19:22 local
Place: Ferndale, MT
Phase of flight: Forced Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N37982
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04LA084
Reported as: Piper J4E
Reported engine: Continental C85*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 63 total60 in this make and model3 in the last 90 days

N37982Registered now · Piper J4ES/N 4-1501 · Built 1941 Airframe modelPiper J4E Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

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 reported a sputtering engine after a 45 minute pleasure flight. Engine continued to lose power. Pilot tried to make the Ferndale, Montana, airport but made an emergency landing (1/2 to 3/4 mile) north of the runway. The aircraft skipped and bounced through a pasture for approximately 165 yards. The pilot applied hard braking. Nose and propeller dug into ground and flipped over. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No injury to pilot. This investigation is closed.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT REPORTED A SPUTTERING ENGINE AFTER A 45 MINUTE PLEASURE FLIGHT. ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. PILOT TRIED TO MAKE THE FERNDALE, MONTANA, AIRPORT BUT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING (1/2 TO 3/4 MILE) NORTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SKIPPED AND BOUNCED THROUGH A PASTURE FOR APPROXIMATELY 165 YARDS. THE PILOT APPLIED HARD BRAKING. NOSE AND PROPELLER DUG INTO GROUND AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO INJURY TO PILOT. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

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 SEA04LA084Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBigfork, MTA loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion while in cruise flight as a result of inadequate preflight planning / preparation. Factors contributing to the accident were the short landing field and trees.May 18, 2004 · Substantial damage