# NTSB BFO94LA062: Piper PA-28-140, N857DG, Gloucester, VA, April 9, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 1994, 16:21 local (20:21 UTC) - Place: Gloucester, VA - Coordinates: 37.42905, -76.540039 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4290&lon=-76.5400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA062 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PERFORM ADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTIONS AND PLANNING FOR THE FLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE. THIS LED TO FUEL EXHAUSTION OF THE ENGINE AND A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AS THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING FOR LANDING. REALIZING HE COULD NOT LAND AT THE INTENDED DESTINATION, THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE STUMP AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN AT LEAST 4.5 HOURS ON THREE SEPARATE FLIGHTS SINCE ITS LAST REFUELING. HE STATED THAT HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL LEVELS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL WAS AVAILABLE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF FUEL. THE EXAMINATION ALSO DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRPLANE UNTIL ALL USABLE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 1994, at 1621 hours eastern daylight time, N857DG, a Piper PA-28-140, operated by the owner/pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Gloucester, Virginia. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during descent. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from Williamsburg, Virginia, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot during a telephonic interview, the airplane had been fueled at its home base in Hammonton, New Jersey, several days prior to the accident. Two days prior to the accident, the airplane was flown for about 0.5 hours without being refueled. The flight was a local flight that involved several touch-and-go landings. On the following day, the airplane was flown for about 2.6 hours, from New Jersey to Williamsburg, without being refueled. The airplane was flown for an additional 1.4 hours during the accident flight, which occurred one day later, without being refueled. The accident flight was a local flight from Williamsburg. The pilot stated that he was returning to land at the Williamsburg Airport when the engine suddenly began to "sputter." The engine could not provide enough power for the airplane to land at the airport, so the pilot elected to land in a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a tree stump and a ditch and was substantially damaged. The wreckage was examined at the accident site by an FAA aviation safety inspector. According to the inspector, the left wing separated and the airplane nosed over. The left wing fuel tank was not compromised and no fuel was found in it. The right wing fuel tank was punctured and had about one gallon of fuel in it. The engine was then removed and examined in detail by the another FAA aviation safety inspector at Rick Aviation in Newport News, Virginia, on May 26, 1994. According to the inspector, the examination did not reveal any evidence of pre-impact mechanical deficiencies. No evidence of fuel was found in the carburetor float bowl or fuel pump. According to the pilot's account of the flight time since the last refueling, the airplane had flown a total of at least 4.5 hours. The airplane's fuel capacity was 50 gallons, held in two 25-gallon wing tanks. According to the aircraft operating handbook, 48 gallons are usable. The pilot stated that he checked the fuel visually prior to each flight, but was unable to determine exactly how much fuel remained in each tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N857DG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N857DG-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 28-24822, built 1968 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-24822 - Airframe hours: 7095 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Raccuglia, Louis - Registered owner: Raccuglia, Louis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: JGG, WILLIAMSBURG, VA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 147 total, 133 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LFI, 6 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 19940409048589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940409048589A), Apr 9, 1994: Piper PA28140, Gloucester, VA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Tried land in field. Struck tree stump and ditch. Fuel tanks were empty. Flew 4HRS 30MIN no refueling. 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.