# Accident 20180308001579A: Piper PA-32R-301T, Big  Spring, TX, March 8, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 8, 2018, 20:10 local time
- Place: Big  Spring, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0367° N, 102.1017° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0367&lon=-102.1017&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8191B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8191B-2019-10-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301T (registry code 7103220, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301T
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 450 total, 250 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180308001579A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED HE DEPARTED GEORGETOWN (GAD) EN-ROUTE TO MIDLAND AIRPARK (MDD) AT APPROX. 1815 CST ON 3/8/2018.

THE WING TANK QUANTITY GAUGES INDICATED 60 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT TIME OF PRE-FLIGHT.

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROX. 5700' ASL

THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE LOST POWER (APPROX. 2010 CST).  HE PUSHED THE EMERGENCY BUTTON ON HIS GPS.  THE GPS INDICATED THE CLOSEST AIRPORT WAS BIG SPRING, TX. 15 MILES AWAY.

REALIZING HE WOULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT AND SAW THE LIGHTS OF A TRUCK TRAVELING DOWN A DIRT ROAD BELOW HIM.  HE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE ROAD BEHIND THE TRUCK.

JUST BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT REACHED THE ROAD IT STRUCK A POWERLINE AND FELL TO THE GROUND INVERTED.

SOME OIL FIELD WORKERS IN THE AREA SAW THE ACCIDENT, CALLED 911, AND ASSISTED THE PILOT OUT OF THE WRECKAGE.

## 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 GAA18CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA152), Mar 9, 2018: Piper PA 32R (N8191B), Big Spring, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to manage the airplane’s fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt the flight with an inoperative fuel gauge.

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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