# Accident 20090623010409A: Piper PA28180, Sheldon, IA, June 23, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 23, 2009, 11:00 local time
- Place: Sheldon, IA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.2014° N, 95.7331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2014&lon=-95.7331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7795N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7795N-2013-05-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 707 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09FA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA377) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090623010409A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JUNE 23, 2009, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FOR ATKINSON, WI (K61C) EN ROUTE FOR CHAMBERLAIN, SD (K9V9) AT APPROXIMATELY 0800 HOURS WITH 208 POUNDS OF BAGGAGE AND A COMBINED WEIGHT OF 610 POUNDS FOR THE PASSENGERS AND CREW.  PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED 12 GALLONS OF FUEL.  A WITNESS AT THE POINT OF DEPARTURE OVERHEARD A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE TWO PILOTS THAT A FUEL STOP WOULD BE NEEDED IF THE TANKS WERE ONLY FILLED TO THE "TABS".  WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE WITH ITS WINGS ROCKING LEFT AND RIGHT, AND REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE "SPUTTER", QUIT RESTART, THEN QUIT AGAIN.  THE FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL LEAK FROM EITHER TANK, AND LESS THAN ONE GALLON REMAINED WHEN BOTH TANKS WERE DRAINED.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FUEL STOP NEVER OCCURRED ALONG THE AIRCRAFT'S ROUTE OF FLIGHT.  WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS FAIR WITH WINDS FROM THE WEST AT 3 MPH.  A FRONT WAS APPROACHING FROM THE WEST, AND APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER WINDS WERE GUSTING TO 45 MPH WITH RAIN.  AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A BERM ADJACENT TO THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET FROM THE TOP, COMING TO REST NOSE DOWN.

## 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 CEN09FA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA377), Jun 23, 2009: Piper PA-28-180 (N7795N), Sanborn, IA, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel planning and failure to refuel.

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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