CHI00LA272

The pilot said that prior to departing Spearfish, South Dakota, he fueled the airplane with 30 gallons. Approaching Fremont, Nebraska, the pilot said he noticed his fuel gauges were showing approximately 10 gallons in each tank. Nearing his destination airport at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, the pilot said the fuel tank he was on 'seemed to run dry.' He switched tanks and continued to the airport. Approximately 2 miles from the airport, he turned on the fuel boost pump. Shortly after, the airplane's engine 'sputtered, then quit.' The pilot said that he 'switched tanks again, rocked the wings to free all the fuel, and the engine ran for a couple of seconds, and quit.' The pilot said that he repeated this action two additional times with no success. He held the airplane's altitude so that it would clear a set of power lines in front of him. 'The stall warning light was flashing as I passed over the wires. I dropped the nose at this point to prevent a stall.' Seeing a roadway ahead, the pilot dropped the nose of the airplane so that he wouldn't 'hit the ditch and road embankment. We hit the ground and turned ... sideways ...' Examination of the airplane revealed approximately 1/2 cup of fuel on board. No other anomalies were revealed.

On August 27, 2000, at 1830 central daylight time (cdt), a Piper PA-28-180, N2451R, operated by a private pilot, lost power during approach to land on Runway 16 (4,100 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt), at the Plattsmouth Municipal Airport, Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the subsequent forced landing attempt. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and 3 passengers on board reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Ainsworth, Nebraska, and was en route to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, at 1620 cdt.

In his written statement, the pilot said they were on the last leg of a return trip, which began at earlier that day in Spearfish, South Dakota, and stopped at Ainsworth, Nebraska. The pilot said that he fueled the airplane with 30 gallons before departing Spearfish. On the trip from Ainsworth, and approaching Fremont, Nebraska, the pilot said he noticed his fuel gauges were showing approximately 10 gallons in each tank. The pilot said he became concerned and considered diverting to another airport, but elected to continue to Plattsmouth. Nearing the airport, the pilot said the fuel tank he was on "seemed to run dry." The pilot said he switched tanks and continued to the airport. Approximately 2 miles from the airport, the pilot said he put on the fuel boost pump. Shortly after, the airplane's engine "sputtered, then quit." The pilot said that he "switched tanks again, rocked the wings to free all the fuel, and the engine ran for a couple of seconds, and quit." The pilot said that he repeated this action two additional times with no success. Off the nose of the airplane, the pilot said he saw power lines. The pilot held the airplane's altitude so that it would clear the lines. "The stall warning light was flashing as I passed over the wires. I dropped the nose at this point to prevent a stall." Seeing a roadway ahead, the pilot dropped the nose of the airplane so that he wouldn't "hit the ditch and road embankment. We hit the ground and turned ... sideways ..."

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident scene. The airplane's nose wheel was broken aft. One propeller blade was bent back. The bottom part of the fire wall was bent aft. Numerous wrinkles and buckles were observed in the cowling, front bottom fuselage, and right wing. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed approximately 1/2 cup of fuel on board. No anomalies were revealed with the engine, engine controls, or other airplane systems.