# NTSB CHI00LA064: Piper PA-38-112, N4276E, Alma, MI, February 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2000, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Alma, MI - Coordinates: 43.370433, -84.650848 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3704&lon=-84.6508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48619/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA064 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculation. Factors were the rough terrain, the fence and the exhaustion of the fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing. The pilot stated that he had flown the aircraft on the previous day and did not refuel the aircraft prior to the accident flight. The pilot estimated the round trip distance to be about 425 miles, the cruise speed to be 100 miles per hour, and the aircraft fuel consumption to be 7.5 to 8.5 gallons per hour. According to the written statement, 'In calculating his [the pilot's] fuel consumption he [the pilot] determined that he [the pilot] would not have had enough fuel.' The pilot said that he executed the forced landing in a snow-covered field and the airplane nosed over after striking a fence line. He also said that he 'did not plan total fuel for flight and pre flight warm up.' On scene examination of the aircraft revealed no preexisting anomalies with respect to the aircraft, it's engine or systems. No fuel was found in the line from the fuel pump to the carburetor. No fuel was found in any of the fuel tanks and no fuel stains were found on the ground surrounding the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2000, at 0730 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N4276E, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Alma, Michigan. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported minor injuries. The airplane departed the Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) near Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, about 0505 and was en route to the Gratiot Community Airport (AMN) near Alma Michigan. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated that he had flown the aircraft from AMN to CIU on the previous day and did not refuel the aircraft prior to the accident flight. According to the FAA inspector's written statement, the pilot estimated the round trip distance to be about 425 miles, the cruise speed to be 100 miles per hour, and the aircraft fuel consumption to be 7.5 to 8.5 gallons per hour. According to the FAA inspector's written statement, "In calculating his (the pilot's) fuel consumption he (the pilot) determined that he (the pilot) would not have had enough fuel." In his written statement, the pilot said that he executed the forced landing in a snow-covered field and the airplane nosed over after striking a fence line. He also said that he "did not plan total fuel for flight and pre flight warm up." On scene examination of the aircraft revealed no preexisting anomalies with respect to the aircraft, it's engine or systems. No fuel was found in the line from the mechanical fuel pump to the carburetor. No fuel was found in any of the fuel tanks. There were no fuel stains on the ground surrounding the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4276E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4276E-2001-09-05), registration cancelled 2001-09-05, S/N 38-78A0522 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0522 - Airframe hours: 4599 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hansen Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 3, 2000, 22 hours before - Departed: CIU, SAULT STE MARIE, MI - Destination: AMN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 430 total, 43 in this make and model, 261 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -6 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AMN, 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 20000208009879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000208009879A), Feb 8, 2000: Piper PA38112, Alma, MI, No damage. (-23) Engine began to run rough enroute. Left fuel tank was selected and carb heat applied. Engine recovered for a short time then lost power. Emergency… 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.