# NTSB CHI96LA335: Piper PA-31, N27299, Janesville, WI, September 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 1996, 21:15 local (Sep 13, 1996, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Janesville, WI - Coordinates: 42.680721, -89.010108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6807&lon=-89.0101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10387/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA335 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion as a result of an inadequate preflight by the pilot in command. ## 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) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had a trip in the morning. He reported that he was running late and was in a hurry. He neglected to check the nacelle tanks for fuel, but he did check the main and auxiliary tanks which were full. He reported that he mistakenly thought he had fuel in the nacelle tanks. He completed the trip and was returning to Janesville, Wisconsin. About 12 miles from the airport both engines quit and he executed a forced landing to a field. The aircraft refueler reported that he did not refuel the nacelle tanks. He reported he was told to top off the main and outboard tanks. Examination of the aircraft revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 1996, at 2115 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31, N27299, operated by Blackhawk Airways, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a bean field as a result of fuel exhaustion. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR 91 flight had departed Whiteside County Airport, Sterling, Illinois, and was en route to Janesville, Wisconsin, when it ran out of fuel 12 miles from Janesville. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had a trip in the morning. He reported that he was running late and was in a hurry. He neglected to check the nacelle tanks for fuel, but he did check the main and auxiliary tanks which were full. He reported that he mistakenly thought he had fuel in the nacelle tanks. He completed the trip and was returning to Janesville, Wisconsin. About 12 miles from the airport both engines quit and he executed a forced landing to a field. The aircraft refueler reported that he did not refuel the nacelle tanks. He reported he was told to top off the main and outboard tanks. Examination of the aircraft revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27299](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27299), registered now, S/N 31-7752128, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 2128 - Airframe hours: 4006 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blackhawk Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 1996, 56 hours before - Departed: SQI, STERLING, IL - Destination: JVL, JANESVILLE, WI - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 14,500 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 11,300 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 12 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JVL, 12 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 19960912034459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960912034459A), Sep 12, 1996: Piper PA31350, Janesville, WI, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that he had a trip in the morning. He reported that he was running late and was in a hurry. He neglected to check the nacelle tanks for… 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.