# NTSB CHI96LA333: Piper PA-32, N2087A, Chicago, IL, August 31, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1996, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.739372, -87.649406 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7394&lon=-87.6494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA333 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's improper flare 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 - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Gear collapsed, emergency landing - flare - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported 'the aircraft engine stopped' and he made a 'forced landing.' The forced landing was made in a level gravel field. During the landing, both main landing gear collapsed, and the left gear penetrated the upper surface of the wing. The propeller was positioned horizontally and was undamaged. The left fuel tank contained 18 gallons of fuel, and the right fuel tank was empty. The fuel selector was found in the off position. The engine operated normally during a postaccident test run. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1996, about 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32, N2087A, sustained substantial damage when the landing gear collapsed during a forced landing in Chicago, Illinois. The commercial rated pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight originated about 0700 in Gary, Indiana with a planned destination of Chicago, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. In his written statement, the pilot reported "the aircraft engine stopped" and he made a "forced landing." The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who examined the airplane reported that it was located in a level gravel field. The propeller was positioned horizontally and was undamaged. Both main landing gear were collapsed and the left gear had penetrated the upper surface of the wing. The left fuel tank contained 18 gallons of fuel and the right fuel tank was empty. The fuel selector was in the off position. He reported no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The airframe and powerplant mechanic who recovered the airplane from the field reported that the engine operated normally during a test run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2087A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2087A), registered now, S/N 32R-7987001, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7987001 - Airframe hours: 1932 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Niemeyer Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 1996, 1 hours before - Departed: GYY, GARY, IN - Destination: MDW, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 23 in this make and model, 326 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 19960831032959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960831032959A), Aug 31, 1996: Piper PA32RT300T, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. During photo flight engine gradually lost power and quit. Collapsed gear on forced landing. Depleted a fuel tank. (-23) during a photography flight, the engine… 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.