# Accident 20040517035509A: Piper J4E, Ferndale, MT, May 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 2004, 19:22 local time
- Place: Ferndale, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.0667° N, 113.9833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0667&lon=-113.9833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N37982, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37982) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J4E (registry code 7100610, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j4e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J4E
- Reported engine: CONT C85*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 63 total, 60 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040517035509A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 SEA04LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA084), May 18, 2004: Piper J4/E (N37982), Bigfork, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A 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…

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.