# NTSB CHI95LA332: Piper PA-24-250, N6725P, Ludington, MI, September 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1995, 20:19 local (Sep 25, 1995, 00:19 UTC) - Place: Ludington, MI - Coordinates: 43.949478, -86.440002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9495&lon=-86.4400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10040/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA332 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's inaccurate fuel calculations and the failure to refuel the airplane prior to takeoff. An additional cause was the stall/mush 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 (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE 'RAN OUT OF FUEL,' APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE 'TURNED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE WIND' AND ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD TAKEN OFF KNOWING THAT HE WAS 'PROBABLY STRETCHING HIS FUEL TO REACH HIS PLANNED DESTINATION.' THE PILOT DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED EVIDENCE INDICATIVE OF A HARD FLAT IMPACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL PRIOR TO IMPACT. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1995, at 2019 eastern daylight time (edt), a Piper PA-24-250, N6725P, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a plowed field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight departed Rochester, New York, at 1745 edt, and was en route to Ludington, Michigan. The pilot reported that he was approximately six miles from his destination airport at 2200 feet mean sea level when he "ran out of fuel." He turned on the fuel pump and switched tanks with no success. The pilot stated that he then "turned the airplane into the wind and looked for a place to put the airplane down." He selected a plowed field to do a forced landing in, but had to clear trees in front of him to reach it. The pilot stated that he was knocked unconscious at impact. In a subsequent telephone conversation with the pilot, he said that he had taken off knowing that he was "probably stretching his fuel to reach his planned destination," but felt that he could "get fuel somewhere en route." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage stated that the airplane "impacted in soft dirt and slid approximately 50 feet before coming to rest." The right main gear strut was found driven up through the right wing skin. The left main gear was bent outward and the nose gear was found separated from the rest of the airplane wreckage. The cowling and forward fuselage were bent underneath. Examination of the propeller showed one blade undamaged and the other blade bent aft. There were severe wrinkles observed throughout the skin of the airplane. The cabin was found intact, but the seats, control panel and luggage had been jarred loose. Examination of the flight controls showed no evidence of preimpact damage. There was no evidence of fuel at the accident site. Examination of the fuel system indicated no sign of fuel in the system prior to impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6725P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6725P-2013-05-01), registration cancelled 2013-05-01, S/N 24-1852, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1852 - Airframe hours: 2187 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David R. Kiefer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1995, 75 hours before - Departed: ROC, ROCHESTER, NY - Destination: LDM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 420 total, 56 in this make and model, 341 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MBL, 20 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 19950925030099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950925030099A), Sep 25, 1995: Piper PA24250, Ludington, MI, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel en route. Damage occured landing in plowed field. Aircraft listed as destroyed. (-23) the aircraft sustained substantial damage following an… 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.