CHI94LA348

The pilot flew to the airport which was intended as a refueling stop but had to make a missed approach due to a rain storm. While en route to the alternate airport a total loss of engine power was experienced. The pilot selected a road on which to make a forced landing but had to veer the airplane off the road due to vehicle traffic. The airplane crossed a ditch and the right wing contacted a telephone pole. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated she did not monitor the fuel gages as well as she should have.

On September 23, 1994, at 1751 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6244W, registered to Maxine E. Taylor collided with a telephone pole during a forced landing near Dale, Indiana, while on a personal flight. The forced landing was being made due to a loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, on September 23, 1994, at 1215 central daylight time.

The pilot stated the cross country flight was planned from Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, to Rough River State Park, Kentucky, with a fuel stop in Tell City, Indiana. She stated she filed an IFR flight plan to Tell City with Evansville as an alternate. The pilot stated she flew the VOR approach at Tell City but was unable to see the airport due to a rain storm. A missed approach was made and the pilot proceeded to fly to the alternate of Evansville. The pilot stated she requested priority handling from Evansville approach control due to a low fuel state and she was issued a heading to the airport. Approximately 30 miles east of Evansville, the pilot stated, a total loss of engine power was experienced.

The pilot stated she broke out of the overcast at 2,000 feet mean sea level and selected a road on which to land. She stated that just prior to touching down she veered the airplane to the right due to traffic on the road. The airplane crossed through a ditch and the right wing contacted a telephone pole.

Post accident inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed no usable fuel was present in the airplane. The pilot reported, "I was so busy flying the airplane, solid IFR at times and above a solid overcast the entire trip, that I did not monitor the fuel gauges as I should have. I looked at the tanks and they indicated half full, I looked again and they indicated almost empty."