# NTSB CHI94LA348: Piper PA-28-140, N6244W, Dale, IN, September 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1994, 17:51 local (21:51 UTC) - Place: Dale, IN - Coordinates: 38.290725, -86.950462 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2907&lon=-86.9505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9699 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9699/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA348 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to assure an adequate fuel supply for the flight. Factors associated with the accident were poor preflight planning, inattentiveness to the fuel supply during the flight, the ditch, and the utility pole which was contacted during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - utility pole (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6244W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6244W), registered now, S/N 28-20288, built 1964 (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: 28-20288 - Airframe hours: 2972 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Maxine E. Taylor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 1994, 6 hours before - Departed: 61C, FORT ATKINSON, WI - Destination: EVV, EVANSVILLE, IN - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 503 total, 403 in this make and model, 482 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EVV, 27 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 19940923030699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940923030699A), Sep 23, 1994: Piper PA28140, Dale, IN, Substantial damage. Unable land at fuel stop due weather. Engine quit short of alternate. Hit pole landing on road. Fuel tanks empty. ## Other investigations on N6244W (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 CHI66F0693](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0693), Mar 17, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N6244W), West Chicago, IL, 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.