# NTSB ATL94LA163: Piper PA-25-235, N7726Z, Washington, NC, August 22, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 1994, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Washington, NC - Coordinates: 35.550186, -77.049339 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5502&lon=-77.0493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3438 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3438/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA163 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate inflight planning that resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable terrain, a plowed field, available for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - rough/uneven - landing gear,main gear - overload - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED CHEMICAL SPRAYING, AND WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT FOR REFUELING AND CHEMICAL RELOADING. WHILE ON A TWO MILE BASE LEG, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A TOBACCO FIELD, RESULTING IN A BENT WING SPAR. IN HIS REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS RELYING UPON THE FUEL GAUGE TO DETERMINE THE REMAINING FUEL QUANTITY, RATHER THAN ELAPSED TIME. ABOUT TWO GALLONS OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION. UNUSABLE FUEL IS PLACARDED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS TWO GALLONS. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 1994, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7726Z, dragged the right wing during a forced landing roll near Washington, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by Lee Flying Service under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the positioning flight. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Warren Field, Washington, North Carolina, about 1115. The airplane was returning from a spray run for reloading and refueling. The pilot reported that while on a left base leg for landing on runway 23, the engine popped and quit. A forced landing was made in a tobacco field, about two miles from the airstrip. The landing was made across the furrows, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear. Substantial damage was done to the right wing when it dragged across the furrows. An inspector from the Raleigh, North Carolina, Flight Standards District Office, Morrisville, North Carolina, reported that about two gallons of automotive fuel were drained from the airplane's fuel tank. Unusable fuel for the airplane is two gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7726Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7726Z-2009-08-18), registration cancelled 2009-08-18, S/N 25-3896, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-3896 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lee Flying Service, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1994 - Departed: OCW - Destination: OCW - Airport: OCW, Warren Field, runway 23, 5,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 722 total, 459 in this make and model, 659 as pilot in command, 168 in the last 90 days, 164 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PGV, 20 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 19940822022669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940822022669A), Aug 22, 1994: Piper PA25235, Washington, NC, Substantial damage. Lost power on wide base leg. Landed across tobacco field furrows. Tow gallons unuseable fuel in tanks. ## Other investigations on N7726Z (2) 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 ATL88DKJ34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88DKJ34), Sep 26, 1980: Piper PA-25 (N7726Z), Bay Minette, AL, destroyed - [NTSB FTW74DPG58](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74DPG58), Apr 25, 1974: Piper PA-25 (N7726Z), Altheimer, AR, 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.