# NTSB CEN12FA021: Piper PA-28-140, N6085W, Guthrie, OK, October 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 2011, 15:38 local (20:38 UTC) - Place: Guthrie, OK - Coordinates: 35.873611, -97.384719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8736&lon=-97.3847&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 82075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12FA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82075/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82075 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA021 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was fueled to capacity and flew for 3 hours and 15 minutes to its destination, where it was not refueled. Two days later, the airplane flew for 3 additional hours. During that flight, a passenger said that he heard the pilot say that they were low on fuel. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and the airplane collided with power lines and impacted a storage shed in a residential area. The airplane was equipped with two 25-gallon fuel tanks (50 gallons total, of which 48 gallons were useable). The airplane had been aloft for about 6 hours, 13 minutes. Depending on the power setting, the airplane would have burned between 38 and 52 gallons for the two flights. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 16, 2011, at 1538 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6085W, collided with power lines and impacted a storage shed in a residential area of Guthrie, Oklahoma, following a total loss of engine power. The pilot was fatally injured. One passenger sustained serious injuries, and another passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plan had been filed by the pilot while en route. The flight originated from Gaston’s Resort (K3M0), Lakeview, Arkansas, approximately 1230, and was en route to Guthrie (KGOK). On Friday, October 14, the pilot fueled the airplane to maximum fuel capacity and flew from KGOK to Norman (KOUN), Oklahoma, a straight-line distance of about 44 miles. The pilot's son and grandson boarded the airplane. They departed KOUN approximately 1245, and flew to K3MO, a fishing resort, arriving there about 1500. The pilot's other son drove to K3MO, and they stayed at the resort for two days. Because there was no fuel at K3MO, the airplane was not serviced. On the day of the accident, the brothers switched -- one flying and the other driving back to KGOK. The airplane departed K3MO about 1230 and did not land at any airport to refuel. The 11-year-old passenger, who was in the back seat, said the flight was pleasant until they were about 2 or 3 miles from KGOK and he heard his grandfather say they were low on fuel. The grandson fell asleep and was awakened by the crash. PERSONNEL (CREW) INFORMATION The 62-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He also held a third class airman medical certificate, dated November 1, 2010, with the limitation, "Holder shall possess glasses for near and intermediate vision." His last flight review was dated March 21, 2011. The pilot had three logbooks: the first logbook contained entries from June 25, 1985 to August 30, 1989; the second logbook contained entries from September 23, 1989 to July 4, 2010, and the third logbook contained entries from July 18, 2010, to October 1, 2011 The third logbook indicated the pilot had accrued the following flight times (in hours): Total time, 883.8 Pilot-in-command, 835.0 Instruction received, 54.5 Day, 822.6 Night, 61.2 Cross-country, 822.6 Simulated instruments, 6.2 Piper PA-28-140, 185.7 AIRCRAFT INFORMATION N6085W, a model PA-28-140 (serial number 28-20099), was manufactured by the Piper Aircraft Corporation in 1964. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2A engine (serial number L-14053-27), rated at 150 horsepower, driving a Sensenich 2-blade, all-metal, fixed-pitch propeller (model number 74DM6-0-60). According to the airplane maintenance records, the last annual and 100-hour inspections wereperformed on April 2, 2011, at a total time of 3,505.14 hours. At that time, the engine had accrued 1,708.7 hours since major overhaul. At the accident site, the tachometer read 3,553.1 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The following weather observations were recorded by Guthrie Municipal Airport’s (KGOK) AWOS (Automated Weather Observation System)) at 1453 and 1553, respectively: Wind, 280 degrees at 10 knots; visibility, 10 miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 32 degrees C.; dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter, 29.90 inches of Mercury. Wind, 250 degrees at 8 knots; visibility, 10 miles; sky condition, clear; temperature 32 degrees C.; dew point, 11 degrees C.; altimeter, 29.89 inches of Mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane was found resting against a storage shed in a nose-down, right wing low attitude. The right wing fuel tank was compromised; the left wing fuel tank was empty. The fuel selector was on the left tank, and the electric boost pump was on. The mixture control was rich, and the throttle was midrange and bent. The master and magneto switches were on. The following is a partial list of observed switch and control positions and instrument settings: Flaps – Up Trim – Full nose down Tachometer – 100 rpm - 3,553.1 Hobbs meter – 792.1 Clock – 3:38:29 (stopped)Airspeed - 0 Heading indicator – 150 degrees Altimeter – 3,600 feet Artificial Horizon – 25 degree left bank Turn Coordinator – 2x right standard rate turn Kollsman window – 30.30 in. Hg. Comm #1 – Digital Nav #1 - Digital #1 OBS – 278 degrees Comm #2 – Between 122.5 and 122.7 MHz (on) Nav #2 – 114.5 MHz #2 OBS – 251 degrees MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy on the pilot (#1104209) was performed by Oklahoma’s Office of the Chief Medical Investigator. Death was attributed to “multiple blunt force injuries.” Toxicology protocols were conducted by both the Federal Aviation Administration’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute and Oklahoma’s Office of the Chief Medical Investigator. Both reports showed negative results for ethyl alcohol, carbon monoxide, cyanide, and drugs. TESTS AND RESEARCH The airplane was equipped with two 25-gallon fuel tanks (50 gallons total, of which 48 gallons were useable). Based on the pilot’s son’s report, the airplane had been aloft for approximately 6 hours, 13 minutes. According to the Piper PA-28-140 “Pilot Operating Manual,” fuel consumption would be 8.4 gallons per hour (gph), 7.3 gph, and 6.2 gph at 75, 65, and 55 per cent power, respectively, and total fuel consumption would have been 52, 45, and 38 gallons, respectively. A Bendix/King AV80R GPS (Global Positioning System) was recovered at the accident site and sent to NTSB’s Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for examination. According to the engineer’s report, the device did not contain a memory card. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6085W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6085W-2012-10-02), registration cancelled 2012-10-02, S/N 28-20099, built 1964 (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: 28-20099 - Airframe hours: 3553 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Darrell A. Smittle - Registered owner: Darrell A. Smittle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2011, 48 hours before - Departed: K3M0, Lakeview, AR - Destination: KGOK, Guthrie, OK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2011; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 884 total, 120 in this make and model, 835 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KGOK, 3 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 20111016026229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111016026229A), Oct 16, 2011: Piper PA-28-140, Guthrie, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On October 16, 2011, at 1538 Piper PA-28-140, N6085W collided with power lines, and impacted a storage shed in a residential area of Guthrie ok. The pilot was… ## Docket (18 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82075. 14.5 MB in all. - Record of Telephone Interview (item 1, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Interview-Master.PDF - Map 1 - Over view of the accident site. (item 2, .PDF, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%201%20-%20Over%20view%20of%20the%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF - Map 2 - Guthrie Airport was 2-3 miles southwest of the accident site. (item 3, .PDF, 399 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%202%20-%20Guthrie%20Airport%20was%202-3%20miles%20southwest%20of%20the%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF - Map 3 - Close-up view of the accident site and the storage shed struck by N6085W. (item 4, .PDF, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%203%20-%20Close-up%20view%20of%20the%20accident%20site%20and%20the%20storage%20shed%20struck%20by%20N6085W.-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Performance Charts (item 6, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Performance%20Charts-Master.PDF - Toxicology Reports, Darrell A. Smittle (item 7, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicology%20Reports,%20Darrell%20A.%20Smittle-Redacted.PDF - Certification of Party Representatives (item 8, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Certification%20of%20Party%20Representatives-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Form 6120.15, Release of Aircraft Wreckage (item 9, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.15,%20Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Repaired powerlines and poles that were struck by N6085W (item 10, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Repaired%20powerlines%20and%20poles%20that%20were%20struck%20by%20N6085W-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - N6085W at the accident and minor damage to the storage shed (item 11, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20N6085W%20at%20the%20accident%20and%20minor%20damage%20to%20the%20storage%20shed-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - There was minor damage to the parked pick-up truck (item 12, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20There%20was%20minor%20damage%20to%20the%20parked%20pick-up%20truck-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Propeller spinner exhibiting crushing damage on one side and the absenceof spiralling striations (item 13, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Propeller%20spinner%20exhibiting%20crushing%20damage%20on%20one%20side%20and%20the%20absenceof%20spiralling%20striations-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Ascending propeller blade exhibiting faint 45-degree striations on the cambered surface of the polished aluminum alloy blade (item 14, .PDF, 844 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Ascending%20propeller%20blade%20exhibiting%20faint%2045-degree%20striations%20on%20the%20cambered%20surface%20of%20the%20polished%20aluminum%20alloy%20blade-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Descending propeller blade is bent slightly aft (item 15, .PDF, 762 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Descending%20propeller%20blade%20is%20bent%20slightly%20aft-Master.PDF - Photo 7 - Pilot's instrument panel with electric fuel boost pump (red switch) in the ON position (item 16, .PDF, 796 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20-%20Pilot%27s%20instrument%20panel%20with%20electric%20fuel%20boost%20pump%20(red%20switch)%20in%20the%20ON%20position-Master.PDF - Photo 8 - Fuel selector was positioned on left fuel tank (item 17, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%20-%20Fuel%20selector%20was%20positioned%20on%20left%20fuel%20tank-Master.PDF - Photo 9 - Flap handle was in the retracted position (item 18, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%20-%20Flap%20handle%20was%20in%20the%20retracted%20position-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. 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