# NTSB ATL93LA130: Piper PA-28-140, N5764W, Poplar Branch, NC, July 20, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 1993, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Poplar Branch, NC - Location: 36.2802° N, 75.8927° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Poplar Branch, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2802&lon=-75.8927&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3241 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3241/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA130 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE PLANNED THE FLIGHT WITH WHAT HE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT FUEL. ENROUTE TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLOUD CONDITIONS WHICH FORCED HIM TO DEVIATE FROM THE ORIGINAL PLANNED ROUTE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF SEARCHING FOR A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, THE PILOT LOCATED PINE ISLAND AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NORTH RUNWAY, VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE EXAMINATION ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE THROUGHOUT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 1993, at 1800 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28- 140, N5764W, collided with a fence while attempting a precautionary landing at a private airport near Poplar Branch, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with a valid visual flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the two occupants on board the airplane were not injured. The flight departed Statesboro, Georgia, at 1420 hours. According to the pilot, he had flown between Statesboro and Elizabeth City several times and always reached the destination airport with approximately one hour of fuel on board. During this flight, he encountered weather conditions which required him to deviate from his planned course. After the engine sputtered a few times, the pilot realized that he was near exhausting his fuel supply and began searching for a place to make a precautionary landing. After several minutes of searching, the pilot located Pine Island Club Airport. During the landing roll on the north runway, the pilot lost control of the airplane, veered off the runway and collided with a fence. The pilot also stated that, the engine continued to operate throughout the entire approach and landing procedures. There was no fuel in either fuel tank when the airplane was examined at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5764W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5764W-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 28-1546, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (registry code 7102804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-1546 - Airframe hours: 2866 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-EZ 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cribbs, Thomas E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 1992, 42 hours before - Departed: TDR, STATESBORO, GA - Destination: ECG, ELIZABETH CITY, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: NONE, Pine Island Club Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 183 total, 68 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MQI, 25 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 19930720024849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930720024849A), Jul 20, 1993: Piper PA28150, Poplar Branch, NC, Substantial damage. Low on fuel diverted to golf course strip. Lost control on landing roll. Hit a fence. Fuel tanks were empty. ## Other investigations on N5764W (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 MKC70D0018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70D0018), May 10, 1969: Piper PA-28 (N5764W), Elmo, KS, 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.