# Accident 20170513024509A: Piper PA-28-140, Muskogee, OK, May 13, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 13, 2017, 15:00 local time
- Place: Muskogee, OK
- Airport: Davis Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.7028° N, 95.3769° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7028&lon=-95.3769&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3976K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3976K-2018-02-13) (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 PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 904 total, 80 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA186) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170513024509A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT AND LOST POWER AND HAD TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING APPROXIMATELY 3 MI. NNE OF (KMKO) DAVIS FIELD, MUSKOGEE, OK. ON HWY. 64 IMPACTING A ROAD SIGN ON FLARE.  NO SERIOUS INJURY INCURRED TO THE PILOT OR HIS PASSENGER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE HIGHWAY DUE TO TRAFFIC ON A FLATBED TRAILER AND TRANSPORTED TO THE RAMP AT DAVIS FIELD.

NO DAMAGE TO EITHER FUEL TANK WAS NOTED AND FIRST RESPONDERS STATED THAT NO LEAKAGE WAS NOTED AT THE SCENE. THE R/H TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 10 GALS OF FUEL AND THE L/H TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 20 OZ. OF FUEL. THE SUMP DRAINS AND FILTERS WERE FOUND TO BE NORMAL WITH NO SIGNS OF WATER, ONLY MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF FINE PARTICLES. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE R/H POSITION WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PILOT'S STATEMENT THAT HE SWITCHED TO THAT TANK TO ATTEMPT A RESTART.  NO OTHER ISSUES WERE NOTED WITH THE AIRCRAFT THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

THE PILOT IN HIS STATEMENT REVEALED THAT HE MAY HAVE NOT SWITCHED TO THE FULLEST TANK WHEN HE NEEDED TO, AND ALSO BEGAN HIS FLIGHT FOR THE DAY NOT KNOWING THE ACTUAL FUEL QUANTITY JUST THE FUEL GAGE READINGS.

## 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 CEN17LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA186), May 13, 2017: Piper PA 28-140 (N3976K), Muskogee, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Other reports on N3976K (1)

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

- [Incident 19930427015839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930427015839I), Apr 27, 1993: Piper PA28140 (N3976K), Kendsha, WI. Pilot received vectors around thunderstorms. Vectors added flight time. Fuel exhaustion. Forced landing in field.

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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