# NTSB CEN10LA476: Piper PA-28-180, N9507J, Winnfield, LA, August 12, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 2010, 19:30 local (Aug 12, 2010, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Winnfield, LA
- Coordinates: 31.9575, -92.669998 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9575&lon=-92.6700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76946
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA476
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76946/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76946
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA476

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. After takeoff, as the airplane was passing 650 feet above the ground and the airspeed was about 80 mph, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in a turn in an attempt to return to the airport, during which the airplane collided with trees. The pilot indicated that there was 25 gallons of fuel on board the airplane at takeoff. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane after recovery. They reported finding no fuel in the fuel system and no fuel blight on the trees. The recovery team reported similar findings.

## Factual narrative

On August 11, 2010, approximately 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9507J, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and impacted terrain following a loss of power during initial climb from David G. Joyce Airport (0R5), Winnfield, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, received minor injuries. The local flight had just originated. According to a telephone conversation with the pilot and the accident report he submitted, he was going to practice touch-and-go landings. After takeoff, as the airplane was passing 650 feet and the airspeed indicator read 80 mph, the engine lost power. The pilot turned the airplane around in an attempt to return to the airport, but the airplane collided with trees. The pilot extricated himself from the wreckage and walked a mile to seek help. The sheriff's office was notified of the accident at 2013, and the wreckage was located the following morning. The pilot indicated there was 25 gallons of fuel on board the airplane at takeoff. FAA inspectors examined the airplane after recovery and submitted the following report: "(1) Removed gascolator and found it to be clean with no signs of fuel. Screen inside of gascolator were also found to be clean. (2) Removed metal fuel line from electric fuel pump to gascolator, no sign of fuel. (3) Removed electric fuel pump and opened, less than ½ of teaspoon of fuel found and the screen inside of the pump was found to be clean. (4) Removed and examined fuel lines from gascolator to carburetor and found no evidence of fuel. (5) Removed carburetor from the engine, opened bowl drain plug. No evidence of fuel found. Moved throttle arm forward and aft several times, no evidence of fuel in the accelerator pump. (6) Removed muffler assembly and inspected with no abnormalities found. (7) Examined left fuel tank and found less than a pint of fuel inside. There was a rupture on the top skin but no blue fuel staining was evident. Examined fuel cap and found rubber seal in serviceable condition and vent seal to be functioning OK. (8) Aircraft is substantially damaged due to recover operation and removing from thick wooded area. (9) In interview with the owner/pilot he admitted during preflight he only checked fuel gauges and found they indicated ½ tank of fuel in each. He admitted that he did not visually check the fuel levels. (10) The pilot/owner described the startup, taxi and runup as normal in regards to magneto operation, carburetor heat check. He reported normal acceleration and climb after departing the runway. (11) The pilot/owner described the engine “shutter” a couple of times after takeoff, he checked fuel pressure and started a turn back to the airport. He then said the engine completely quit, heleveled the wings and descended into the trees. The pilot/owner estimated flight time from engine start to accident at 15 minutes. (12) The pilot/owner stated he found small particles while sumping the right fuel tank during preflight fuel samples and took additional sample and fuel was clear. He also stated he had left tank selected during flight." The pilot said he did not possess a pilot or medical certificate, although he had taken some instruction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9507J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9507J-2011-09-07), registration cancelled 2011-09-07, S/N 28-3628, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-3628
- Airframe hours: 2819
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wallace W. Ingles
- Registered owner: Wallace W. Ingles
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 4, 2010, 20 hours before
- Departed: 0R5, Winnfield, LA
- Destination: 0R5, Winnfield, LA
- Airport: 0R5, David G. Joyce Airport, runway 27, 3,002 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: minor; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total, 75 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: AEX, 46 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 20100811051659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100811051659A), Aug 11, 2010: Piper PA-28-180, Winnfield, LA, Destroyed. Airman stated after takeoff around 600 feet AGL the engine "shuttered" a couple of times, airman checked fuel pressure and started a turn back toward the…

## Other investigations on N9507J (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 SEA77FYP34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FYP34), Aug 1, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N9507J), Mattawa, WA, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA68D0014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68D0014), Jun 13, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N9507J), Mesa, WA, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76946. 2.7 MB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Map of accident location and its proximity to the David G. Joyce Airport. (item 3, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20accident%20location%20and%20its%20proximity%20to%20the%20David%20G.%20Joyce%20Airport.-Master.PDF
- Satellite photo of accident location and its proximity to the David G. Joyce Airport. (item 4, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Satellite%20photo%20of%20accident%20location%20and%20its%20proximity%20to%20the%20David%20G.%20Joyce%20Airport.-Master.PDF

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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