# NTSB BFO89LA016: Piper PA-38-112, N2409F, Elkview, WV, January 19, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 1989, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Elkview, WV
- Coordinates: 38.429325, -81.470291 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4293&lon=-81.4703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11490
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11490/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA016

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT AND INADEQUATE CREW/GROUP COORDINATION BY THE FLIGHT LEADER (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PRESENCE OF TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ONE OF THREE PA-38 ACFT FLYING TOGETHER FROM VENICE, FL TO BEAVER FALLS, PA. THE LEAD ACFT WAS FLOWN BY A CFI AND THE OTHER TWO ACFT, INCLUDING N2409F, WERE FLOWN BY NEWLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLTS. THE PLT OF N2409F WAS CERTIFICATED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT OF N2409F, FLIGHT PLANNING WAS DONE BY THE CFI. THE EN ROUTE FLIGHT WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT, EXCEPT THE FIRST REFUELING STOP WAS EARLIER THAN PLANNED, BECAUSE THEY WERE LOW ON FUEL. A SECOND REFUELING STOP WAS MADE AT SUMMERVILLE; HOWEVER, WHEN THEY LANDED THE FUEL SERVICE THERE WAS CLOSED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, EACH ACFT HAD 4 GALS OF FUEL. HE SAID THE CFI DETERMINED THEY HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO REACH CHARLESTON, LOCATED 40 MILES AWAY. THEY TOOK OFF AND, ACCORDING TO THE PLT, ABOUT 14 MILES SOUTH OF CHARLESTON, HIS ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE LANDING. THE OTHER TWO ACFT REACHED CHARLESTON AND WERE REFUELED WITH MORE THAN 30 GALS OF FUEL (CAPACITY WAS 32 GALS; USABLE FUEL WAS 30 GALS).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2409F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2409F-1989-06-07), registration cancelled 1989-06-07, S/N 3879A0425 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A0425
- Airframe hours: 3172
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Beaver Aviation Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 1988, 40 hours before
- Departed: I07, SUMMERVILLE, WV
- Destination: CRW, CHARLESTON, WV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRW, 10 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 19890119001009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890119001009A), Jan 19, 1989: Piper PA38112, Elkview, WV, Substantial damage. No fuel at fuel stop. Flight of 3 aircraft tried for next airport but this aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed.

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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