# NTSB CHI02LA299: Piper PA-28-140, N9714W, Moorhead, MN, September 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2002, 21:00 local (Sep 30, 2002, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Moorhead, MN - Coordinates: 46.839168, -96.663055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8392&lon=-96.6631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55844 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55844/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA299 ## Probable cause The inadequate fuel management by the certified flight instructor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - misc eqpt/furnishings,shoulder harness - not installed ## Analysis The instructional flight sustained substantial damage during a forced landing approximately 20 feet short of the intended landing runway. The certified flight instructor (CFI) noted twice for the need to switch fuel tanks before the accident. During the final approach segment of the flight, the airplane was configured with an idle power setting and 10 degrees of flaps. While on final approach, the throttle was advanced from its idle setting no engine power was noted. Examination of the fuel system revealed the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained usable fuel. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses due its certification basis. The CFI received minor facial injuries, and the student pilot received serious facial injuries. A supplemental type certificate was available for the installation of shoulder harnesses on the accident make and model airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2002, at 2100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N9714W, operated by West Central Airways Inc., as a flight training/rental airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing short of runway 12 at Moorhead Municipal Airport (JKJ), Moorhead, Minnesota. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The student pilot received serious injuries, and the certified flight instructor (CFI) received minor injuries. The flight originated from Fergus Falls Municipal-Einar Mickelson Field Airport (FFM), Fergus Falls, Minnesota, at 1930. The flight was the student pilot's introductory night flight. The CFI's preflight briefing with the student covered intended points of landing; runway lengths, directions, surfaces and lighting available; forecast weather for the route; time, distance, and fuel requirements for the flight; and the need to switch fuel tanks at some point during the flight. The route of flight was from FFM to Pelican Rapids Municipal Airport-Lyon's Field, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, to Detroit Lakes Airport-Wething Field, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to Hawley Municipal Airport (04Y), Hawley, Minnesota, to JKJ and returning to FFM. While on the ground at 04Y, the CFI made a mental note for the need to switch fuel tanks "probably before landing at JKJ." Upon arrival at JKJ, the CFI verbally noted the presence of another aircraft without a landing light. The CFI stated in a written statement, "this would have been a good time to switch fuel tanks." The CFI stated that while on final, with a flap setting of 10 degrees, the throttle was advanced from idle, but there was no engine power. A landing was made approximately 20 feet short of the runway 12 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) with a 10 degree flap setting. The accident airplane was manufactured in 1967 without shoulder harnesses in accordance with certification regulations at the time of manufacture. Supplemental type certificate, SA00001CH, held by Aero Fabricators, Co., provides a kit for the installation of a shoulder harness and seat belt assembly on PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-151, PA-28-160, PA-28-161, PA-28-180, PA-28-235, PA-28R-180, PA-28R-200 airplanes. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publication, Aircraft Safety Restraints, states, "A properly installed shoulder harness which is worn by an occupant is one of the most important safety devices in an aircraft because it can reduce the chance of injury in an accident. Experts say serious injuries and fatalities can be reduced by more than one-third if everyone would wear shoulder harnesses. The CFI sustained facial trauma and swelling, and the student pilot sustained a broken nose. Examination of the airplane by the FAA revealed that the airplane's left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained a usable fuel level. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9714W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9714W-2007-05-08), registration cancelled 2007-05-08, S/N 28-23190, built 1967 (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: 28-23190 - Airframe hours: 4700 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: West Central Airways Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: 04Y, Hawley, MN - Destination: JKJ, Moorehead, MN - Airport: JKJ, Moorhead Municipal, runway 12, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 12 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 15, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 1,115 total, 86 in this make and model, 1,060 as pilot in command, 217 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 160° at 13 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: FAR, 9 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 20020930029989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020930029989A), Sep 30, 2002: Piper PA28140, Moorhead, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power on short final as a result of fuel exhaustion in the left fuel tank due to improper fuel management. This fuel starvation resulted in… ## Other investigations on N9714W (3) 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 CHI06FA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06FA275), Aug 24, 2006: Piper PA-28-140 (N9714W), Kulm, ND, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in his inadvertent encounter with a thunderstorm and his loss of aircraft control. A factor… - [NTSB CHI01LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA143), Feb 18, 2001: Piper PA-28-140 (N9714W), Detroit Lakes, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Altitude/clearance not maintained from the transmission wires during a low altitude flight/maneuver performed by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the transmission wires. - [NTSB CHI82DER05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DER05), Oct 20, 1981: Piper PA-28 (N9714W), New York Mills, MN, 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.