# NTSB CHI91LA226: Piper PA-28-161, N525PU, Lafayette, IN, July 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1991, 22:50 local (Jul 24, 1991, 03:50 UTC)
- Place: Lafayette, IN
- Coordinates: 40.419692, -86.920639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4197&lon=-86.9206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15125
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15125/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA226

## Probable cause

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND REFUELING NOT PERFORMED BY THE CFI/PIC.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CFI PILOT SAID THAT WHILE PERFORMING NIGHT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, THEY HAD A LOSS OF POWER. THE FORCED LANDING RESULTED IN A LANDING IN THE TREE TOPS. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 5.7 HOURS SINCE REFUELING AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N525PU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N525PU-1992-06-16), registration cancelled 1992-06-16, S/N 2841190 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2841190
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Purdue University
- Departed: LAF, LAFAYETTE, IN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,284 total, 691 in this make and model, 1,073 as pilot in command, 134 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: LAF, 1 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 19910723029829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910723029829A), Jul 23, 1991: Piper PA28161, Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on climbout. Crashed in trees and remained suspended. Failed to fuel prior night training flight.

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.

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