# NTSB CHI01LA009: Piper PA-28-140, N732FL, Lansing, MI, October 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 2000, 21:38 local (Oct 12, 2000, 01:38 UTC) - Place: Lansing, MI - Coordinates: 42.790931, -84.590904 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7909&lon=-84.5909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50546 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50546/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA009 ## Probable cause the pilot's inaccurate preflight planning. Factors were the fuel exhaustion, the trees, and the bright night condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - light condition - bright night (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing after the pilot declared he was out of fuel. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated, "Departed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport at 5:01P after refueling. Visually checked fuel level prior to departure for Lansing. ... Fuel starvation occurred east of LAN after 4 hrs and 35 min of flight (approx) and impact 4 1/2 mi east of destination. ... I slowed the aircraft and applied flaps. I headed for a dark area on the ground and impacted trees." Federal Aviation Administration inspectors performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. An inspector stated, "An on scene investigation of the aircraft was conducted as well as an inspection of the engine after recovery of the aircraft. No abnormalities were noted other than there was no fuel in either tank or any evidence of fuel at the scene." The pilot stated that he "figured 9 gal/hr for cruise, leaned 75% at roughly 2500rpm. ... Pilot stated that he probably miscalculated winds." ## Factual narrative On October 11, 2000, about 2138 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N732FL, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing after the pilot declared he was out of fuel near Lansing, Michigan. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, near Avoca, Pennsylvania, about 1701 and was destined for Capital City Airport, near Lansing, Michigan. The pilot stated, "Departed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport at 5:01P after refueling. Visually checked fuel level prior to departure for Lansing. ... Fuel starvation occurred east of LAN after 4 hrs and 35 min of flight (approx) and impact 4 1/2 mi east of destination. ... I slowed the aircraft and applied flaps. I headed for a dark area on the ground and impacted trees." Federal Aviation Administration inspectors performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. An inspector stated, "An on scene investigation of the aircraft was conducted as well as an inspection of the engine after recovery of the aircraft. No abnormalities were noted other than there was no fuel in either tank or any evidence of fuel at the scene. In the interview with [the pilot], he stated that he ran out of fuel and the engine stopped. ... He stated that he used flight following for the entire flight." The pilot stated that he "figured 9 gal/hr for cruise, leaned 75% at roughly 2500rpm. ... Pilot stated that he probably miscalculated winds." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N732FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N732FL-2003-12-16), registration cancelled 2003-12-16, S/N 28-7225510, built 1972 (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: 28-7225510 - Airframe hours: 4774 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert A. Boyd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2000, 15 hours before - Departed: AVP, AVOCA, PA - Destination: LAN - Airport: LAN, Capital City Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,463 total, 1,328 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 113 °F, dew point 97 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAN, 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 20001012043039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001012043039A), Oct 12, 2000: Piper PA28140, East Lansing, MI, Destroyed. (-23) On 10/12/00 acft N732FL departed wilkes-barre/scranton airport at 5:01 pm local after topping off with fuel (50 gal capacity). Pilot states he visually… ## Other investigations on N732FL (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC74FHA25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC74FHA25), Mar 6, 1974: Piper PA-28 (N732FL), Pottstown, PA, substantial damage 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.