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20081113856689A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-140 · Tuscaloosa, AL · November 13, 2008

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
November 13, 2008 · 14:10 local
Place
Tuscaloosa, AL
Phase of flight
Descent
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N8797N
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA09CA052
Reported as
Piper PA28140
Reported engine
Lycoming O320E2A
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
368 total368 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days
N8797NRegistration cancelled Sep 17, 2013 · Piper PA-28-140S/N 28-25641 · Built 1969Airframe modelPiper PA-28-140Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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) On November 13, 2008, the pilot of a Piper PA-140, aircraft N8797N and three passengers departed from jacksonville, IL enroute to kissimmee, FL. With a planned alternate fuel stop before reaching Tuscaloosa airport (tcl). Pilot stated that he chose not to refuel at planned fuel stop because fuel gauge was showing enough fuel for trip. Pilot stated that as he got closer to the Tuscaloosa airport (tcl), he called tower to start setting up for approach. Pilot stated that he descended to 7,500 ft about 11 miles out from (tcl) airport, pilot stated that he had a strong head wind and scattered clouds which delayed his descent. Pilot stated that he was not sure how long he was flying on top, but while descending through the opening he noticed that he did not have fuel in right tank, at that time the engine quit. Pilot stated that he switched the fuel selector from right tank to left tank and found left tank out of fuel. Pilot stated that he realized he was not going to make it. Aircraft crashed about 12 miles north west of Tuscaloosa airport (tcl). No fatalities. Pilot and passengers sustained serious to minor injuries and aircraft was destroyed.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 13, 2008, THE PILOT OF A PIPER PA-140, AIRCRAFT N8797N AND THREE PASSENGERS DEPARTED FROM JACKSONVILLE, IL ENROUTE TO KISSIMMEE, FL. WITH A PLANNED ALTERNATE FUEL STOP BEFORE REACHING TUSCALOOSA AIRPORT (TCL). PILOT STATED THAT HE CHOSE NOT TO REFUEL AT PLANNED FUEL STOP BECAUSE FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING ENOUGH FUEL FOR TRIP. PILOT STATED THAT AS HE GOT CLOSER TO THE TUSCALOOSA AIRPORT (TCL), HE CALLED TOWER TO START SETTING UP FOR APPROACH. PILOT STATED THAT HE DESCENDED TO 7,500 FT ABOUT 11 MILES OUT FROM (TCL) AIRPORT, PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD A STRONG HEAD WIND AND SCATTERED CLOUDS WHICH DELAYED HIS DESCENT. PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT SURE HOW LONG HE WAS FLYING ON TOP, BUT WHILE DESCENDING THROUGH THE OPENING HE NOTICED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE FUEL IN RIGHT TANK, AT THAT TIME THE ENGINE QUIT. PILOT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM RIGHT TANK TO LEFT TANK AND FOUND LEFT TANK OUT OF FUEL. PILOT STATED THAT HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 12 MILES NORTH WEST OF TUSCALOOSA AIRPORT (TCL). NO FATALITIES. PILOT AND PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS TO MINOR INJURIES AND AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

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 ERA09CA052Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportTuscaloosa, ALThe pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was improper preflight planning.Nov 13, 2008 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8797N · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19740809030129AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Raleigh, NCPilot landed at a muddy construction site. Oil pres hose p/n 61413-02 ruptured.AD 72-4-3 not c/w.Aug 9, 1974 · Substantial damage