# NTSB ANC10CA099: Piper PA-28-140, N5748U, Kenai, AK, September 27, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 26, 2010, 19:20 local (Sep 27, 2010, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.825, -150.394729 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8250&lon=-150.3947&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77418 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77418/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77418 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA099 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was on the last leg of a personal cross-country flight and experienced engine anomalies due to lack of fuel. The engine experienced a total loss of power and he reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic approach controller that he had a fuel-related emergency. The pilot was given a direction and distance to the airport, but he determined the airplane was not capable of gliding that distance. The pilot performed a forced landing in a mash and the airplane nosed over on the landing roll. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was on the last leg of a personal cross country flight with one passenger when he radioed to an FAA air traffic approach controller that he had a "lack of fuel" emergency and requested a heading to an airport. The pilot was given a direction and distance, but he decided he was not able to glide that far. The airplane subsequently sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing on marshy terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the accident flight. The pilot was asked by the NTSB investigator if he purchased fuel prior to departure on the last leg of his flight, and he indicated that he did not but should have. According to the pilot, his passenger held a private pilot certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5748U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5748U-2021-04-03), registration cancelled 2021-04-03, S/N 28-26570, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-26570 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scott Schneider - Registered owner: Kevin Sutton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Port Alsworth, AK - Destination: Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Observed at: ANC ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100926049509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100926049509A), Sep 26, 2010: Piper PA-28-140, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted], A student pilot, crashed a pa 28-140, aircraft registration number N5748U, due to improper fuel management which ultimately led to fuel… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77418. 954 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 885 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337404&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.