# NTSB CHI98LA036: Piper PA-28-180, N8886J, Willmar, MN, November 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 13, 1997, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Willmar, MN - Coordinates: 45.119956, -95.03923 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1200&lon=-95.0392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10780/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA036 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision, his continued flight into known adverse weather, and subsequent fuel exhaustion, which resulted in loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, the pilot's lack of an instrument flight experience, and darkness at the time of the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot departed at 1100 MST. He had intended to land at Imperial, Nebraska, for fuel, but instrument weather conditions precluded him from landing. He continued to fly to his destination airport and reported there were 'no holes in the clouds' between Nebraska and Minnesota. He was flying at 11,500 feet msl. About 30 minutes from Willmar, Minnesota, he radioed a Flight Service Station and started a descent into instrument meteorological conditions. He did not possess an instrument flight rating. The pilot reported the engine lost power, but he switched fuel tanks, and the engine restarted. The engine lost power again a short time later when the airplane was about 300 feet above ground level. The pilot executed a forced landing onto a farm. The pilot reported that he 'should have just used my GPS and went in on runway 10 before I ran out of gas.' ## Factual narrative On November 13, 1997, at 1730 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8886J, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion. The private pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed from Pueblo Memorial Airport, Pueblo, Colorado, en route to Willmar Municipal Airport, Willmar, Minnesota, when it landed in a farmers field, 6.2 nautical miles from the Willmar Municipal Airport. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed but no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he had departed Pueblo, Colorado, at 1100 mountain standard time. He had intended to land at Imperial, Nebraska, for fuel but instrument weather conditions precluded him from landing. The pilot reported that he continued to fly to his destination airport at Willmar, Minnesota. He reported that there were "no holes in the clouds" between Nebraska and Minnesota. The pilot reported he was flying at 11,500 feet mean sea level. When he was about 30 minutes from Willmar, Minnesota, he radioed a Flight Service Station. He started a descent into instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot did not possess an instrument flight rating. The pilot reported that the engine failed once. He switched fuel tanks and the engine started. The engine failed again a short time later when the airplane was about 300 feet above ground level. The pilot executed a forced landing into a farmer's field. The pilot reported that he "should have just used my GPS and went in on runway 10 before I ran out of gas." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8886J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8886J-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 28-2860 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2860 - Airframe hours: 2720 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David W. Day - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 1997, 60 hours before - Departed: PUB, PUEBLO, CO - Destination: ILL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 223 total, 223 in this make and model, 164 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ILL, 6 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 19971113040339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971113040339A), Nov 13, 1997: Piper PA28180, Willmar, MN, Substantial damage. Narrative: dpt pueblo, co for wilmar, MN climbed to 11500. Pilot became disoriented, encountered ice and ran out of fuel. Left main gear, left wing, nose gear,… ## Other investigations on N8886J (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX76AL076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76AL076), May 23, 1976: Piper PA-28 (N8886J), Tucson, AZ, no damage, 1 fatal 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.