# NTSB BFO92LA026: Piper PA-28-161, N8379N, East Taunton, MA, January 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 1992, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: East Taunton, MA
- Location: 41.8834° N, 71.0287° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of East Taunton, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8834&lon=-71.0287&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11761
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11761/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA026

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE DUAL STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - residence
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

DURING AN APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON RUNWAY 12, BUT THE AIRPLANE CLIPPED TREES, HIT A HOUSE AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN/WATER SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.  ACCORDING TO AIRPORT FUELING RECORDS AND THE HOBBS METER READING, THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY 5.2 HOURS SINCE IT LAST RECEIVED FUEL. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR, AND APPROXIMATELY ONE PINT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8379N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8379N-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 28-8116213, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8116213
- Airframe hours: 3663
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: King Aviation Services
- Registered owner: Dave Collins, Jr. Dave Collins
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 31, 1991, 42 hours before
- Airport: TAN, Taunton Muni, runway 12, 3,486 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 492 total, 201 in this make and model, 338 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVD, 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 19920129057019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920129057019A), Jan 29, 1992: Piper PA28161, Taunton, MA, Destroyed. In pattern. Lost power. Trying for runway 12 hit tree and a house. Had flown 5HRS since fueling. One pint fuel left

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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