# NTSB CHI95LA134: Piper PA-22-160, N9418D, Rock Falls, IL, April 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 1995, 19:15 local (Apr 20, 1995, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Rock Falls, IL - Coordinates: 41.789497, -89.689659 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7895&lon=-89.6897&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 June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9875 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9875/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA134 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to refuel prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation. ## 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 - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THERE WAS 1/2 HOUR OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT FUEL TANK AND NO FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. HE MADE NO VISUAL CHECK OF THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO TAXI AND DEPARTURE. AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND ON THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE GRASS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, NOSED OVER, AND CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE REVEALED. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 1995, at 1915 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22- 160, N9418D, registered to Stephen C. Schlager of Carterville, Illinois, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing at Whiteside County Airport, Rock Falls, Illinois. The private pilot received minor injuries, the passenger reported no injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. In a detailed statement, the pilot reported that he had planned to take a friend for a quick ride around the traffic pattern. The pilot stated that he did not visually check the fuel tanks prior to this flight but he stated, "I was real confident that I had 1/2 hour fuel left in that right tank." He also stated that he believed there was no fuel in the left tank. After taxiing to the end of the runway, they departed runway 36. At approximately 300 feet above the ground, the engine lost all power. The pilot stated he decided to make a 180 degree turn back to the airport to make a forced landing. The airplane landed on the grass short of the runway, nosed over, and came to rest in an inverted position. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies. No fuel was found in the right fuel tank and approximately two to three gallons of fuel was found in the left fuel tank. During an interview with the FAA, the passenger stated that when the engine lost power, he had suggested to the pilot that he switch the selected fuel tank to the left. The pilot had replied that there was no fuel in the left tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9418D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9418D-1995-12-04), registration cancelled 1995-12-04, S/N 226392 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6392 - Airframe hours: 3443 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen C. Schlager - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1994, 44 hours before - Departed: SQI - Airport: SQI, Whiteside County Airport, runway 36, 3,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 462 total, 332 in this make and model, 406 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SQI ## 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 19950419009459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950419009459A), Apr 19, 1995: Piper PA22160, Sterling Rockfa, IL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on takeoff. Turned back. Landed short. Nosed over. Pilot aware low fuel prior departure. (-23) dion carr, a private pilot, acted as pilot in… 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.