# Accident 20170611005339A: Piper PA-25-260, Hood River, OR, June 11, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 11, 2017, 16:45 local time
- Place: Hood River, OR
- Airport: Ken Jernstedt Airfield
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.6650° N, 121.5211° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6650&lon=-121.5211&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8578L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8578L-2018-08-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-260 (registry code 7102508, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-G1A5 (registry code 42344, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-g1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-G1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 317 total, 7 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA331) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170611005339A

## Narrative

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

WHILE RETURNING TO AIRPORT AFTER RELEASING GLIDER AT 3000' PIC NOTED AIRCRAFT WAS AT 2 HOURS OF OPERATON ON ENGINE TACH METER. AT START OR DAY PIC ESTIMATED HE HAD ROUGHLY 2 HOURS OF FUEL ONBOARD. WHEN HE CHECKED THE VISUAL INDICATOR IT SHOWED NO FUEL. HE WAS WEST AND UPWIND OF THE AIRPORT AS  HE ENTERED A NORMAL PROCEDURE   AT 2500' DESCENDING RH 360 DEGREE TURN TO ENTER DOWNWIND LEG AT A 45  FOR LANDING RUNWAY 25 LEFT HAND PATTERN. HALF WAY THROUGH TURN AT FURTHEST POINT (2 MILES) ABEAM RUNWAY 7  ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. PIC ATTEMPTED TO MAKE RUNWAY 7 BUT WITH 8-17 KNOTS  HEAD WIND AND LOSS OF ALTITUDE IN TURN AND DISTANCE FROM AIRPORT HE COULDN'T MAKE AIRPORT. PIC SELECTED SMALLEST AND LEAST DENSE GROUP OF TREES IN A PEACH ORCHARD 1000' SOUTH OF AIRPORT. AIRCRAFT STRUCK SEVERAL TREES DURING DESCENT THEN HIT GROUND DETACHING BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR ON IMPACT. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ON GROUND UNTIL STRIKING PEACH TREE TRUNK WITH PROP HUB ON LH SIDE CAUSING ENGINE MOUNT AND FUSELAGE STRUCTURE TO COMPRESS TO THE RH SIDE AND AIRCRAFT SPUN ON GROUND COMING REST 90 DEGREES  RIGHT OF FLIGHT PATH, CAME TO REST AT BASE OF TREE.  MINOR FACIAL INJURY TO PIC WHEN HE IMPACTED GLARESHIELD. WAS WEARING A 5 POINT HARNESS.

## 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 GAA17CA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA331), Jun 11, 2017: Piper PA25 (N8578L), Hood River, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to visually check the fuel level prior to takeoff and subsequent mismanagement of the available fuel supply during numerous glider tow flights.

## Other reports on N8578L (1)

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

- [Accident 20000617008099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000617008099A), Jun 17, 2000: Piper PA25260 (N8578L), Coleville, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 17, 2000 at 1500 hours PDT Piper N8578L collided with a fence on takeoff from a dirt field near Coleville, CA. The a/c being operated as a tow…

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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