# NTSB ATL87LA061: Piper PA-28-181, N4353P, Albany, GA, January 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1987, 18:23 local (23:23 UTC)
- Place: Albany, GA
- Coordinates: 31.589389, -84.209304 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5894&lon=-84.2093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7371/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA061

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - holding airspace procedure - congested
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - building(nonresidential)

## Analysis

PLT DEPTD BOWLING GREEN WITH A LISTED 5.0 HRS FUEL ON BD. AFTER 3 HR 35 MIN HE ARRIVED OVER DEST AFTER EXHAUSTING FUEL IN THE RT TANK ABT 30 MIN PRIOR. HE STATED THAT THE OTHER TANK WAS ABT 1/2 FULL AT THE TIME. 15 MIN AFTER RT TANK EXHAUSTION THE PLT REQ HIS FIRST WX UPDATE AT DEST. IT WAS AT MIN. AFTER ARP OVER DEST THE EFC TIME WAS ABOUT 25 MIN. LATER. AT THE EFC THE PLT WAS CLRD TO APCH CONT AND TOLD TO EFC 1 HR LATER. THE PLT IND THAT HE COULD NOT HOLD THAT LONG. HE REQ THAT APCH 'LEAP FROG' HIM PAST THE OTHER TRAFFIC APCH DENIED AND PLT REQ DIVERSION TO ANOTHER APT. HE WAS CLRD TO VALDOSTA BUT WAS TOLD THAT APCH GAVE HIM TWO OTHER CHOICES, STAY IN PAT. OR DEC EMER AND WOULD BE WORKED IN PLT REQ PRIORITY INST OF EMER AND WAS DENIED. PLT WAS CLRD FOR ILS APCH. AT 1821 THE PLT RADIOED MY ENG JUST QUIT. HE THEN RADIOED TWR THAT HE HAD HIT SOME WIRES AND WAS DOWN OFF THE ARPT BUT WAS OK. TOT FLT TIME ABT 4 HRS. 40 MIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4353P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4353P-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 288490063 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 288490063
- Airframe hours: 1220
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: 4353 Associates Limited
- Registered owner: 4353 Associates Limited
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 1987
- Departed: BWG, BOWLING GREEN, KY
- Destination: ABY, ALBANY, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ABY, Albany Dougherty Co., runway 4, 6,601 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 319 total, 225 in this make and model, 2,411 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABY, 1 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 19870115035119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870115035119A), Jan 15, 1987: Piper PA28181, Albany, GA, Substantial damage. The aircraft ran out of fuel during an ILS approach. Weather not checked on preflight. Pilot delayed emergency call

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.

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