# Accident 20081113856689A: Piper PA28140, Tuscaloosa, AL, November 13, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 13, 2008, 14:10 local time
- Place: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2189° N, 87.6069° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2189&lon=-87.6069&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8797N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8797N-2013-09-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 368 total, 368 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA052) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081113856689A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 ERA09CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA052), Nov 13, 2008: Piper PA-28-140 (N8797N), Tuscaloosa, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was improper preflight planning.

## Other reports on N8797N (1)

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

- [Accident 19740809030129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740809030129A), Aug 9, 1974: Piper PA28140 (N8797N), Raleigh, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot landed at a muddy construction site. Oil pres hose p/n 61413-02 ruptured.AD 72-4-3 not c/w.

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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