# Accident 20221213022399A: Piper PA-38-112, Rockingham, NC, December 13, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 13, 2022, 11:00 local time
- Place: Rockingham, NC
- Airport: Richmond County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8597° N, 79.7528° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8597&lon=-79.7528&mi=10
- Aircraft: N498DS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N498DS-2024-03-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 18,150 total, 355 in this make and model, 234 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221213022399A

## Narrative

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

ON 12/13/2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 LOCAL TIME, A PIPER TOMAHAWK PA-38-112 SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER EXHAUSTING ITS FUEL SUPPLY AND LANDING IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES SOUTH OF THE RICHMOND COUNTY AIRPORT, NC (RCZ). WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VFR AND THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER PART 91. PIC WAS CURRENT AND QUALIFIED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRWORTHY. THE PILOT STATED IN PART THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AND QUIT SHORTLY AFTER.  THE PIC AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE PIC STATED HE DID NOT CALCULATE A WEIGHT AND BALANCE OR REFERENCE PERFORMANCE CHARTS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. FIRST RESPONDERS VERIFIED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NO FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE SALVAGE OPERATION. THE PIC STATED HE HAD FULL FUEL WHEN DEPARTING ORLANDO SANFORD, FL (SFB).  POST ACCIDENT WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS PROVIDED BY THE PIC INDICATED A TAKEOFF WEIGHT 45 POUNDS OVER MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT. FIRST RESPONDER STATED THE PIC HAD A BACKPACK, TWO SMALLER BAGS AND A SADDLE WITH THEM WHEN HE DROVE THEM TO GET A RENTAL CAR.  ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORICAL FLIGHT PLAN DATA INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT’S GROUND SPEED REDUCED APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH DURING THE FINAL HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES OF THE FLIGHT.

SAS TASK T-EA68-FY23-0443

## 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 ERA23LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA089), Dec 13, 2022: Piper PA-38-112 (N498DS), Rockingham, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.

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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