# Accident 20210530009419A: Piper J4A, Omaha, NE, May 30, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 30, 2021, 09:45 local time
- Place: Omaha, NE
- Airport: North Omaha
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3696° N, 96.0222° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3696&lon=-96.0222&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8501Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8501Z-2023-01-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J4A (registry code 7100604, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j4a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85-12 (registry code 17124, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J4A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85-12F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 173 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210530009419A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 30, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER J4A AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE DUE TO IMPACT WITH TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT THE NORTH OMAHA, NEBRASKA AIRPORT (3NO). THE PILOT PLANNED TO DEPART FROM 3NO TO CONDUCT FLIGHT OPERATIONS WITHIN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN.

DURING THE PREFLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED FILLING THE MAIN FUEL TANK TO THE TOP AND THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK HAD FOUR GALLONS OF FUEL INSIDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED FROM A 55-GALLON DRUM, WHICH HAD BEEN FILLED FROM 5-GALLON GAS CANS THAT WERE FILLED FROM THE AIRPORT?S MAIN FUEL SOURCE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SUMPED THE FORWARD AND AFT FUEL TANKS DURING HIS PREFLIGHT CHECKS. BEFORE TAKEOFF THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED FOR THE MAIN FUEL TANK, AND CONDUCTED THE PRE-TAKEOFF CHECKS AND EVERYTHING CHECK NORMAL. THE PILOT BACK TAXIED RUNWAY 17 FOR TAKEOFF, AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF WITH A FULL THROTTLE POWER SETTING. DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED ABOUT THREE QUARTERS DOWN THE RUNWAY AND CLIMBED OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 300FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR TO THE AUXILIARY TANK WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARDS THE RUNWAY AND UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE.

THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING, AND THE AIRPLANES LEFT WING MADE INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE CONCRETE APRON ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE AIRPORT NEXT TO A ROW OF HANGARS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION ACROSS THE GRASS AND CAME TO A REST FACING SOUTHWEST WHILE UP AGAINST A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND TREE ON THE EDGE OF THE AIRPORT PROPERTY. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, FUSELAGE, ENGINE, AND PROPELLER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT FUEL WAS POURING IN THE COCKPIT AFTER THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A REST, AND WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

## 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 CEN21LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA242), May 30, 2021: Piper J4A (N8501Z), Omaha, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to a blocked fuel tank cap vent hole, which resulted in fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic’s and the pilot’s inadequate inspections of the…

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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