# Incident 20180309001799I: Piper PA-28R-200, Rochester, IN, March 9, 2018

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 2018, 14:00 local time
- Place: Rochester, IN
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.0604° N, 86.1983° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rochester, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0604&lon=-86.1983&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4980S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4980S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,800 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180309001799I

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION:

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED NEW KENT COUNTY AIRPORT, LOCATED IN QUINTON, VIRGINIA (W96) ENROUTE TO RICHLAND, WI WITH A PLANNED FUEL STOP IN WINAMAC, IN (KRWN).

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN W96 AND KRWN IS 491 NM. AT A PLANNED SPEED OF 120 KNOTS THE TRIP WAS PLANNED FOR FOUR HOURS, IN VMC CONDITIONS, WITH ONE HOUR OF FUEL RESERVE.

THE PILOT REPORTS THAT DUE TO A OVERCAST CEILING HE ELECTED TO CLIMB TO A HIGHER ALTITUDE TO REMAIN IN VMC CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN A HIGHER THAN PLANNED HEADWIND, WHICH THE PILOT DID NOT CONSIDER FOR THIS MAXIMUM FUEL DURATION TRIP.

AFTER FIVE HOURS OF FLIGHT AND APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION, HE RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED ON 100S, NEAR 600W IN FULTON COUNTY, INDIANA.

FIVE GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL WAS PURCHASED FROM ROCHESTER INDIANA AIRPORT AND PLACED INTO THE AIRCRAFT.

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LOCAL SHERIFF DEPARTMENT A TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED OFF OF 100S AND WAS ABORTED AT APPROXIMATELY 40 KNOTS WHEN THE WING CONTACTED A SMALL FENCE POLE LOCATED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED BY THE PILOT, DETERMINED TO BE AIRWORTHY AND A SUCCESSFUL TAKEOFF WAS COMPLETED WITH THE REST OF THE FLIGHT UNEVENTFUL.

CASUAL/CONTRIBUTING FACTOR:

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY MONITOR HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION WHILE EXPERIENCING A LOWER THAN EXPECTED GROUND SPEED.

RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE RISK:

TO USE A AERONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO MONITOR GROUND SPEED AND FUEL CONSUMPTION DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT.

ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT A REOCCURRENCE:

A REEXAMINATION OF THE AIRMAN'S COMMERCIAL PILOT PRIVILEGES UNDER 14 CFR 44709 WITH EMPHASIS ON AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.

PTRS:

GL11201802595

COMMENTS:

A REEXAMINATION RIDE WILL BE DONE.

ROOT CAUSE: RC4

## Other reports on N4980S (2)

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

- [Incident 19870124026869I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870124026869I), Jan 24, 1987: Piper PA28R200 (N4980S), Jamesville, WI, Minor damage. Nose gear collapsed on rollout. Nose gear down mirco switch failed. Suspect wheel did not lock down due to cold.
- [Accident 19771127041959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771127041959A), Nov 27, 1977: Piper PA28R200 (N4980S), Joliet, IL, Substantial damage

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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