# NTSB CHI00LA272: Piper PA-28-180, N2451R, Plattsmouth, NE, August 27, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 2000, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Plattsmouth, NE - Coordinates: 40.999565, -95.889953 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9996&lon=-95.8900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50107 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50107/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA272 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper preflight planning, improper in-flight planning and decision not to land before exhausting the airplane's fuel. Factors relating to this accident were the power lines, the roadway, and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - aircraft control - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - low, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - terrain condition - roadway/highway (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2451R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2451R), registered now, S/N 28-5754, built 1970 (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: 28-5754 - Airframe hours: 3020 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dennis Braunesreither - Registered owner: Laspaccatura International Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 1999, 89 hours before - Departed: ANW, AINSWORTH, NE - Destination: PMV - Airport: PMV, Plattsmouth Municipal, runway 16, 4,100 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 627 total, 10 in this make and model, 573 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OFF, 10 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 20000827006859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000827006859A), Aug 27, 2000: Piper PA28180, Plattsmouth, NE, No damage. (-23) On Sunday, August 27, 2000, N2451R, a Piper PA-28-180, landed 1200 feet short of the approach end of runway 16 at Plattsmouth municipal airprot,… 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.