# Accident 20040710012939A: Piper PA28161, Tallassee, AL, July 10, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 10, 2004, 01:00 local time
- Place: Tallassee, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5167° N, 85.8833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5167&lon=-85.8833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6AU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6AU-2013-08-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 160 total, 40 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04CA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040710012939A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE ON A NIGHT PLEASURE FLIGHT PILOT FAILED TO MANAGE AIRCRAFT FUEL SUPPLY ALLOWING FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. LEFT TANK FOUND TOTALLY EMPTY, RIGHT TANK 1/2 FULL AND FUEL SELECTOR ON LEFT TANK. ENGINE QUIT AND AIRCRAFT MADE FORCED LANDING IN COTTON FIELD THREE MILES SOUTH OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA. PILOT HAS NO CLEAR MEMORY OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO ACCIDENT. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT.

## 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 ATL04CA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA149), Jul 10, 2004: Piper PA-28-161 (N6AU), Tallassee, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was pilot fatigue and the unauthorized use of the airplane .

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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