# NTSB ATL04LA039: Piper PA-28R, N5041T, Columbia, SC, November 22, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 22, 2003, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Columbia, SC - Coordinates: 33.888889, -81.119445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8889&lon=-81.1194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58377 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58377/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA039 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, and his inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, after flying 5.2 hours, he believed there were still about 10 gallons of fuel on board the airplane. As the pilot maneuvered for an approach to Columbia -Owen Downtown Airport, the engine lost power. The pilot maneuvered for an emergency landing and the airplane collided with the ground in a residential area 1/2 mile southeast of the airport. The post-accident examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane rested in the backyard of a single family adjacent to a storage shed. The airplane was resting on its right side with the left wing perpendicular to the ground. A small quantity of fuel drained from the left wing root area. During the visual examination of the fuel tanks, no fuel was observed in either tank. According to the pilot operating handbook, approximately two gallons of the 50 gallon fuel capacity are not usable, According to the pilot, the flight departed with 50 gallons of 100 low lead aviation fuel. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 22, 2003, at 1700 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R, N5041T, registered to and operated by a private pilot collided with the ground in a residential area near Columbia, South Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Westover Air Force Base, in Springfield, Massachusetts, at 1210 on, November 22, 2003. According to the pilot, he departed Springfield en route to Aiken, South Carolina. After the departure, the pilot flew nonstop to Columbia, South Carolina. When the pilot established radio contact with Columbia Approach Control, the pilot requested radar vectors to the nearest airport for fuel. According to the pilot, after flying 5.2 hours, he believed there were still about 10 gallons of fuel on board the airplane. As the pilot maneuvered for an approach to Columbia -Owen Downtown Airport, the engine lost power and quit. The pilot maneuvered for an emergency landing and the airplane collided with the ground in a residential area 1/2 mile southeast of the airport. The post-accident examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane rested in the backyard of a single family adjacent to a storage shed. The airplane was resting on its right side with the left wing perpendicular to the ground. A small quantity of fuel drained from the left wing root area. During the visual examination of the fuel tanks, no fuel was recovered from either tank. According to the pilot operating handbook, approximately two gallons of the 50 gallon fuel capacity are not usable, According to the pilot, the flight departed with 50 gallons of 100 low lead aviation fuel. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5041T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5041T-2005-02-18), registration cancelled 2005-02-18, S/N 28R-7235181, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-R-7235181 - Airframe hours: 4560 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank J. Donovan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2003, 26 hours before - Departed: CEF, Westover AFB, MA - Destination: AIK, Aiken, SC - Airport: CUB, Columbia Owen Downtown, runway 13, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,155 total, 482 in this make and model, 1,018 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 12 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 20031122030159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031122030159A), Nov 22, 2003: Piper PA28R200, Columbia, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was enroute from westove afb, mass, to aiken airport, aiken, SC, when he noticed fuel gauges were on empty. Pilot requested radar vectors from cae… 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.