# Accident 20201128014839A: Piper PA-28-160, French Lick, IN, November 28, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 2020, 13:37 local time
- Place: French Lick, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5043° N, 86.6526° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5043&lon=-86.6526&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5242W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5242W-2021-02-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-160 (registry code 7102806, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (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-28-160
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 286 total, 87 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201128014839A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 28, 2020, AT APPROXIMATELY 1:37 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A PIPER PA-28-160, N5242W, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY 1700 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY EIGHT THRESHOLD.  THE PRIVATE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM IMPACT.  THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS AS A PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT ORIGINATING FROM FRENCH LICK, IN (FRH).  THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) AND VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) PREVAILED.

THE PILOT STATED JUST AS HE TURNED [LEFT] BASE LEG THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND DIED.  HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RETURN TO POWER.

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, DROPPED, AND THEN CAME TO REST INVERTED, FACING EAST.

## 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 CEN21LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA068), Nov 28, 2020: Piper PA28 (N5242W), French Lick, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper in-flight decision making which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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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