# NTSB ATL94LA081: Piper PA-28-140, N6380W, Raleigh, NC, April 15, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1994, 21:57 local (Apr 15, 1994, 01:57 UTC)
- Place: Raleigh, NC
- Location: 35.7721° N, 78.6386° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Raleigh, NC, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7721&lon=-78.6386&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3371/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA081

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT FUEL PLANNING THAT RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

AFTER FLYING THREE AND ONE HALF HOURS, THE PILOT DIVERTED TO AN AIRPORT SHORT OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT FOR FUEL. ABOUT THREE MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT THE ENGINE QUIT, AND ATTEMPTS BY THE PILOT TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER FAILED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WOODED AREA SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS RUPTURED. A FEW DROPS OF FUEL WERE RECOVERED FROM THE GASCOLATOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE RIGHT POSITION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FORGOT TO SWITCH THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT POSITION.

## Factual narrative

On April 14, 1994, at 2157 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N6380W, collided with trees during a forced landing, about 3 miles northeast of the Raleigh-Durham Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina. Visual conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal, night flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. The airplane was destroyed; the pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed the Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 1830 hours.

According to the pilot, he diverted into Raleigh to refuel, but while on final the engine quit. The pilot elected to leave the fuel selector on the right tank; the right fuel gauge showed approximately one half tank of fuel. Attempts to restore full engine power failed, and the pilot selected an area along the final approach course to runway 23R for a forced landing.

Examination of the airplane disclosed that the left fuel tank was half full and the right tank was ruptured. A few drops of fuel was recovered from the gascolator assembly. During an interview with the pilot, he stated that he forgot to change the fuel selector before the engine quit.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6380W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6380W-1998-10-17), registration cancelled 1998-10-17, S/N 2820443 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-20443
- Airframe hours: 3250
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roth, Jeffrey L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1993, 25 hours before
- Departed: AGC, PITTSBURG, PA
- Destination: RDU

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 305 total, 207 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 3 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 19940414007809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940414007809A), Apr 14, 1994: Piper PA28140, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Destroyed. Lost power on final. Landed at night short of runway. Fuel selector on empty tank. Fuel in other tank.

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.