# NTSB CEN11LA430: Piper PA-28-180, N9002J, Barron, WI, June 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2011, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Barron, WI - Coordinates: 45.407501, -91.834442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4075&lon=-91.8344&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80941 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA430 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80941/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80941 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA430 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power, which resulted from fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: 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) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 4.4 hours after departure on a cross-country flight, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power about 5 miles from the destination airport. The pilot was unable to restart the engine after switching fuel tanks, a forced landing was made to a nearby field, and the landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. The pilot stated that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion and was not the result of a mechanical malfunction of the engine. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2011, at 1325 central daylight time, a Piper model PA-28-180 airplane, N9002J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Barron, Wisconsin. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The personal flight originated from Watford City Municipal Airport (S25), Watford City, North Dakota, at 0930 and was destined for Rice Lake Regional Airport (KRPD), Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The pilot reported that the planned route was to fly direct from S25 to KRPD, a total distance of 494 nautical miles, with a fuel stop at Cambridge Municipal Airport (KCBG), Cambridge, Minnesota. He noted that the airplane had full fuel tanks (49.6 gallons usable) before departure. After takeoff, the flight climbed to a cruise altitude of 11,500 feet mean sea level. The pilot reported that during the flight he recalculated his fuel remaining and elected to continue onto the final destination without refueling. Approximately 4 hours 25 minutes into the flight the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power about 5 miles northwest of the destination airport. The pilot was unable to restart the engine after switching fuel tanks and a forced landing was made to a nearby field. He reported that he extended the flaps for landing after the airplane had cleared power lines that bordered the field. He stated that the flaps retracted suddenly after he released the flap handle, because he had inadvertently depressed the flap handle release button while extending the flaps. He reported that the sudden loss of lift from the unintended flap retraction resulted in a hard landing which collapsed the landing gear. The fuselage and firewall were substantially damaged during the forced landing. The pilot stated that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion and not the result of a mechanical malfunction of the engine. According to the Piper PA-28-180 owner's handbook, the expected fuel consumption rate at 75-percent power was 10.0 gallons per hour. According to postaccident calculations, the average fuel consumption rate achieved during the accident flight was 11.2 gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9002J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9002J-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 28-3027, 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: 28-3027 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2011 - Departed: S25, Watford City, ND - Destination: KRPD, Rice Lake, WI - Airport: KRPD, Rice Lake Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review November 5, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 2,255 total, 350 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KRPD, 5 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 20110629014449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110629014449A), Jun 29, 2011: Piper PA-28-180, Barron, WI, Substantial damage. During cruise flight with tail winds [privacy data omitted] determined his fuel to be sufficient to reach his destination of rice lake WI without an… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80941. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Piper PA-28-180 Owner's Handbook, Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Piper%20PA-28-180%20Owner%27s%20Handbook,%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet (Piper PA-28-180), Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 853 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheet%20(Piper%20PA-28-180),%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 6, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360699&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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. --- 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.