# Accident 20180507024579A: Piper PA-28-180, Addison, TX, May 7, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 2018, 23:17 local time
- Place: Addison, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0003° N, 96.8281° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0003&lon=-96.8281&mi=10
- Aircraft: N642RJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N642RJ-2018-08-30) (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 PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 214 total, 138 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA264) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180507024579A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ON A DIRECT VFR FLIGHT FROM TUPELO, MS TO WEATHERFORD, TX, THE RIGHT TANK OF THE PA-28 AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES FROM THE DESTINATION. THE PILOT THEN SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK AND CONTINUED THE FLIGHT WITH THE REMAINING FUEL. WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER JUST EAST OF DALLAS, THE PILOT BECAME CONCERNED AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH ATC. WHILE RECEIVING VECTORS TO DIVERT TO ADDISON AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT ANNOUNCED HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT CHOSE AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM CLIPPING A TREE ON ITS FINAL DESCENT, HARD IMPACT WITH THE GROUND, AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE CONCRETE BASE OF A LIGHT POLE. A SMALL ENGINE FIRE ENSUED AFTER LANDING BUT WAS REPORTEDLY IMMEDIATELY PUT OUT.

## 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 GAA18CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA264), May 8, 2018: Piper PA28 (N642RJ), Addison, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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