# NTSB ATL02LA004: Piper PA-28-181, N4149D, Brunswick, GA, October 24, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 2001, 03:15 local (07:15 UTC) - Place: Brunswick, GA - Coordinates: 31.251943, -81.567779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2519&lon=-81.5678&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53682 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53682/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper inflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the none suitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while enroute to Jacksonville, Florida, he noticed that he was low on fuel and contacted "flight control" for directions to the nearest airport. Air traffic control gave him a heading to Glynco Jetport. The pilot said he was at 3000 feet mean sea level and nine miles from the airport when he lost engine power. The pilot declared an emergency, and selectd a forced landing area. The airplane collided with trees four miles west of the airport as the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing. During the examination of the airplane, no fuel was recovered from the fuel system ## Factual narrative On October 24, 2001, at 0315 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N4149D, collided with trees following a loss of engine power about four miles west of the Brunswick; Glynco Jetport, in Brunswick, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and instrument flight rules (IFR). Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight had originated in Nashville, Tennessee, at 2330, the previous day. According to the pilot, while enroute to Jacksonville, Florida, he noticed that he was low on fuel and contacted "flight control" for directions to the nearest airport. Air traffic control gave him a radar vector heading to Glynco Jetport. The pilot said he was at 3000 feet mean sea level and nine miles from the airport when he lost engine power. The pilot declared an emergency, and selectd a forced landing area. The airplane collided with trees four miles west of the airport as the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing. During the examination of the airplane, no fuel was recovered from the fuel system. Examination of the accident site revealed that the right wing assembly was lodged in a tree. The left wing remained attached to the airframe. The pilot didnot report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the total loss of engine power. According to the pilot, the airplane lost power about three hours and forty five minutes into the flight. The flight departed with 50 gallons of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4149D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4149D-2003-03-18), registration cancelled 2003-03-18, S/N 2843294, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843294 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gary L. Williams - Registered owner: Daedalos, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: JWN, NASHVILLE, TN - Destination: CRG, Jacksonville, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BQK, Brunswick, Glynco Jetport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 16, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 292 total, 8 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: BQK, 4 nm away ## 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 20011024036329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011024036329A), Oct 24, 2001: Piper PA28181, Brunswick, GA, No damage. (-23) Notification by the aso comm., center at 1100L, on 10/24/01 that a Piper aircraft crashed in Brunswick, GA. My investigation was in the swamps where… 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.