# NTSB ATL05CA159: Piper 28, N8153N, Andulusia, AL, September 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2005, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Andulusia, AL - Coordinates: 31.314443, -86.400558 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3144&lon=-86.4006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62482/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - other ## Analysis The pilot visually checked the fuel levels of the airplane before departing on the cross country flight. About an hour into the flight and at an altitude of 4,500 the engine began to run rough. At this time the pilot applied full mixture and switched the fuel selector to the right tank and the engine recovered. The pilot alerted Cairns Approach Control of the engine problem and of the his intentions to divert to Andalusia. Minutes later the engine failed again; and the pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. He elected to make a forced landing in a plowed field. During the landing the airplane collided with a furrow. Post-accident examination revealed the nose gear detached and the firewall bent aft. Fuel was not present in either fuel tank, and the carburetor contained no fuel. The fuel tanks had not been breached. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2005, at 1215 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N8153N, registered to Lower Latitude Air LLC and operated by AMS Aviation, collided with the ground about four miles north of the Andalusia-Opp Airport in Andalusia/Opp, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and a flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Anniston Metropolitan Airport in Anniston, Alabama, at 1100 on September 10, 2005. The pilot visually checked the fuel levels of the airplane before departing on the cross country flight. About an hour into the flight and at an altitude of 4,500 the engine began to run rough. At this time, the pilot applied full mixture, switched the fuel selector to the right tank, and the engine recovered. The pilot alerted Cairns Approach Control of the engine problem and of the his intentions to divert to Andalusia. Minutes later the engine loss power again, however the pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and the pilot elected to force land in a plowed field. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a furrow in the plowed field. Post-accident examination revealed the nose gear detached and the firewall bent aft. Fuel was not present in either fuel tank and the carburetor contained no fuel. The fuel tanks had not been breached. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8153N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8153N), registered now, S/N 28-25347 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper 28 - 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: 28-25347 - Engines: Avco Lycoming 52617275 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: AMS Aviation - Registered owner: Lower Latitude Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Andulusia, AL - Destination: DE25, Milton, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 79J, Andalusia-Opp Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; military, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 11 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050910020309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050910020309A), Sep 10, 2005: Piper PA28140, Andalusia, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Ran out of fuel. Off airport landing resulted in no injuries and substantial airframe damage. ## Other investigations on N8153N (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 LAX72AL045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL045), Jan 15, 1972: Piper PA-28 (N8153N), Fntn Valley, CA, substantial damage 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.