# NTSB CHI05CA039: Piper PA-28-181, N3575X, Lee's Summit, MO, December 1, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 1, 2004, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Lee's Summit, MO - Coordinates: 38.95972, -94.371665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9597&lon=-94.3717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 60782 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60782/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA039 ## Probable cause The inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Contributing factors were the muddy terrain and the vegetation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted a muddy field during a forced landing due to a total loss of engine power about 1 1/2 hours after departure. The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane in a hanger equipped with fluorescent lighting. He stated that he checked the fuel gauges, visually checked the fuel level in each tank, and that the fuel level in each fuel tank was "just under the tabs." Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the left fuel tank and no usable fuel was noted in either fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On December 1, 2004, at 1200 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N3575X, operated by Wing Flying Club Inc. as a rental airplane, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing near Lee's Summit Municipal Airport (LXT), Lee's Summit, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from LXT at 1030. The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane in a hanger equipped with fluorescent lighting. During the inspection, he checked the fuel gauges and visually checked the fuel level in each tank and stated that the fuel level in each fuel tank was "just under the tabs." The pilot stated that the runup was normal and after departing from LXT, he flew to a point 5 miles west of Butler Memorial Airport (BUM), Butler, Missouri, and then entered the traffic pattern there to perform a touch and go. After the touch and go, he climbed and headed to the east. A few minutes later the engine sputtered "just a little." He applied carburetor heat, and the engine "smoothed out." He returned to and landed at BUM where he performed a runup. He then shut the engine down and checked the fuel sumps again. He restarted the engine and performed another runup and then flew to Lawrence Smith Memorial Airport (LRY), Harrisonville, Missouri, where he performed a touch and go. He then departed and was en route to LXT when the engine began to run "rough" about 5 miles from LXT. He then performed a forced landing on a muddy field where the airplane's left wing contacted weed resulting in the airplane skidding sideways in the mud. Inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the left fuel tank and no usable fuel was noted in that tank. Inspection of the right fuel tank did not note usable fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3575X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3575X), registered now, S/N 28-8090199, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-8090199 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wing Flying Club Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: LXT, Lee's Summit, MO - Destination: LXT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 146 total, 29 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: LXT, 2 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 20041201029989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041201029989A), Dec 1, 2004: Piper PA28181, Lee'S Summit, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) While descending to traffic pattern altitude of Lee'S Summit airport (lxt), the engine lost power. Pilot was unable to reach runway and landed in a field… ## Other investigations on N3575X (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 CEN15CA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA165), Mar 1, 2015: Piper PA 28-181 (N3575X), Lee's Summit, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-receiving-instruction's excessive pitch control during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall shortly after liftoff and the subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident… 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.