- Date
- April 17, 1990, 23:15 local (Apr 18, 1990, 04:15 UTC)
- Place
- Franklin, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4698ZPiper PA-22-108
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 4, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900417009549A
- Case key
- 14656
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper planning/decision in choosing to continue flight to the destination airport without refueling. The dark night conditions, and a known intermittent radio problem were contributing factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he had sufficient fuel to reach his destination airport, but during arrival, he had to circle in the vicinity of the airport, while he attempted to activate the pilot controlled runway lighting system. The engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion, while he circled. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted trees and the ground during a forced landing. Post-accident examination of the airport lights revealed that they were capable of normal operation. The pilot reported that he had been experiencing difficulties with the aircraft's radios.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4698Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-108
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-8238
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1B, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jim L. Ellis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LBO · Lebanon, MO
- Destination
- 3FK · Franklin, IN
- Airport
- 3FK · Franklin Flying Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 280 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4698Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.