# NTSB CHI96LA107: Piper PA-38-112, N2503B, St. Paul, MN, March 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 1996, 21:30 local (Mar 15, 1996, 03:30 UTC) - Place: St. Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.949169, -93.090568 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9492&lon=-93.0906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10209/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA107 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to assure an adequate fuel supply for the flight which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was the signs contacted by the airplane 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) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported the engine rapidly lost engine power during flight. He switched fuel tanks and was able to momentarily restore power. The engine quit a second time and the pilot made a forced landing on a road. The airplane contacted two street signs and the nose gear collapsed prior to the airplane coming to a stop. The pilot reported a hobbs time of 4 hours and 11 minutes between aircraft refueling and the accident. Postaccident inspection revealed residual fuel remaining in the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 1996, at 2130 central standard time, a Piper PA-38- 112, N2503B, collided with a sign post during a forced landing on a road in St. Paul, Minnesota. The personal CFR 14 Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The last leg of the flight originated from Hayward, Wisconsin. The pilot stated that the airplane was topped off with fuel "into the neck of the filler" which resulted in 30 gallons of usable fuel. He stated he departed Hayward at 1600 cst and flew up to Lake Superior, east of Duluth, Minnesota, and returned to land at Hayward at 1830. The pilot reported that at 2000 cst he started the engine to depart Hayward en route to Lake Elmo. While en route practice IFR holds and an approach were performed near the Anoka County Airport. The pilot had completed these procedures and was heading toward Lake Elmo when the engine "rapidly started to loose power." The pilot stated he switched fuel tanks and turned on the fuel pump. He stated that power was regained for a few seconds before power was lost a second time. The pilot stated he maintained a 70 knot descent and prepared to land on a road (Route 36 in North St. Paul). During the landing the left wing contacted a street sign. The airplane veered across the center median and the right wing contacted another sign. The nose gear also collapsed during the forced landing. The pilot calculated his total hobbs time between refueling and the accident as 4 hours 11 minutes. The pilot reported that using fuel consumption values based on those provided in the Pilot Operating Handbook he should have had an endurance of 5 hours. The airplane was inspected by an Inspector from the Minneapolis, Minnesota Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration. He reported that upon his inspection of the airplane only residual fuel remained in the fuel system. He continued to state that the fuel system was intact with no signs of fuel leakage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2503B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2503B-1996-07-18), registration cancelled 1996-07-18, S/N 3879A0095 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 39-79A0095 - Airframe hours: 5526 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael D. Swan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 1996, 68 hours before - Departed: HYR, HAYWARD, WI - Destination: 21D, LAKE ELMO, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 340 total, 119 in this make and model, 270 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: STP ## 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 19960314004229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960314004229A), Mar 14, 1996: Piper PA38112, St Paul, MN, Substantial damage. Lost power en route round robin. Made several stops. Landed on city highway. Fuel tanks were empty. Struck objects. (-23) on 03/14/96 at 2030 CST Piper… 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.