# NTSB CHI95LA019: Piper PA-28-180, N6464J, Houghton, MI, October 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1994, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Houghton, MI - Coordinates: 47.110694, -88.560913 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1107&lon=-88.5609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9782 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9782/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA019 ## Probable cause inaccurate planning by the pilot which resulted in the failure to assure an adequate fuel supply to complete the flight. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of a suitable landing site for 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, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - planning/decision - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis TWENTY TWO MILES FROM THE CROSS COUNTRY DESTINATION THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE MIGHT HAVE A FUEL PROBLEM BEFORE REACHING THE DESTINATION. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH THE ENGINE QUIT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WOODED SWAMPY AREA. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED ONE GALLON OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE RIGHT TANK WAS RUPTURED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE LEFT TANK. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 1994, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-180, N6464J, operated by N6464J Ltd., collided with trees and swampy terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The loss of power occurred while on approach to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, Houghton, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and three passengers on board were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight originated from Greenville, Michigan, on October 23, 1994, at 1000 eastern daylight time. The pilot reported he filed an IFR flight plan for the flight to Houghton, Michigan, with an intended route of Greenville, White Cloud, Green Bay, Iron Mountain, and Houghton. He stated he flew the portion to Iron Mountain above the clouds and that this portion of the trip was uneventful. He stated that after crossing Iron Mountain, he encountered a bank of clouds along with rain and snow showers. At 1302 edt, Minneapolis (MSP) ARTCC received the following transmission from N6464J, "Yeah do you have me on radar we got iced up and I'm back in control now." MSP ARTCC replied that N6464J was back on radar 22 miles south of the Houghton VOR. At 1302 edt, N6464J reported "Yeah I'm indicating uh twenty-two point two miles uh thirty-six hundred uh fuel might be a problem here before we get done." The pilot stated that when approximately 10 miles from the airport, he informed the ARTCC that he could make the airport. At 1316, N6464J cancelled IFR and was instructed to squawk 1200. The pilot stated that after crossing the outer marker on the approach to Houghton and getting established on the glideslope a gust of wind lifted the left wing. After leveling off and proceeding inbound at an altitude of 2,000 feet msl (900 feet agl) the engine stopped. The pilot stated he attempted to maintain 85 mph and realized he was not going to make it to the airport. The airplane contacted trees and came to rest in a wooded area 3/4 of a mile south of the airport. A pilot rated passenger stated that after crossing Iron Mountain and breaking out of the clouds around Lanse, they discovered they were approximately 5 miles west of their intended course. A course correction was applied and the pilot set up for the landing approach carrying "extra altitude" in case of a problem. He stated the headwinds on the approach were very strong and as the descent continued, the pilot "found he was slightly low." The pilot attempted to add power at which time there was no response from the engine. Post accident inspection of the airplane was conducted by an Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration and an A&P mechanic. The inspection revealed one gallon of fuel remained in the left fuel tank. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. The right fuel tank was ruptured. Fuel was found in the fuel strainer and in the fuel line to the carburetor. The carburetor bowl contained fuel. The pilot rated passenger reported, "By making an intermediate stop to take on more fuel the accident probably would not have happened." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6464J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6464J-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 28-4888, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-4888 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: N6464j Ltd. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 25, 1994 - Departed: 6D6, GREENVILLE, MI - Destination: CMX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CMX, Houghton County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 280 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 32 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CMX, 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 19941023035669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941023035669A), Oct 23, 1994: Piper PA28180, Hancock, MI, Substantial damage. Lost power on final. Struck trees and crashed. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) no narrative. 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.