# NTSB CHI98LA064: Piper PA-24-250, N6377L, Wichita, KS, December 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 16, 1997, 18:15 local (Dec 17, 1997, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Wichita, KS - Coordinates: 37.770656, -97.209114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7707&lon=-97.2091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10807/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA064 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-command misjudged the fuel supply and selected an empty fuel tank which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was the rough terrain encountered when the airplane touched down short of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - attempted, check pilot - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The commercial pilot checked the right wing fuel tanks and reported there was fuel in them. The CFI checked the left tanks and reported the tip tank was full and the main tank was down about 1 1/2 inches. After a half hour local flight, one touch and go, and one go-around the commercial pilot switched from the left main tank to the right main tank while on downwind. The CFI then noticed a zero fuel indication and was switching to another tank when a loss of engine power occurred. The CFI switched back to the left main tank and power was restored as the airplane contacted the terrain short of the runway. Inspection of the airplane revealed the right main fuel tank was empty. ## Factual narrative On December 16, 1997, at 1815 central standard time, a Piper PA- 24-250, N6377L, operated by a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a commercial pilot experienced a loss of engine power. The airplane touched down short of the runway and collided with terrain at the Jabara Airport, Wichita, Kansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. Neither pilot was injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from the Jabara Airport at 1730 cst. The purpose of the flight was for the CFI to check out the commercial pilot in the airplane. The CFI reported that during the preflight the commercial pilot checked the right side fuel tanks and stated that there was fuel in both tanks. The CFI checked the left side tanks and reported the "tip" tank was full and the main tank was down about 1 1/2 inches. They then took off for a local flight using the left main fuel tank. After approximately one half hour they returned to the airport to practice takeoffs and landings. He reported they performed one touch and go followed by one go-around when the commercial pilot switched the fuel selector to the right main fuel tank while on downwind for the next landing. The CFI reported he then noticed a zero fuel indication and was in the process of switching fuel tanks when a loss of engine power occurred. He reported he switched back to the left main tank and told the commercial pilot to verify that the boost pump was on. The CFI reported that the airplane contacted the ground 200 - 300 yards short of the threshold just as the engine power was restored. The airplane touched down in a soft, plowed field which had furrows running perpendicular to the end of the runway. All three landing gear collapsed damaging both wing spars. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers were damaged by the right main gear when it separated from the airplane. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the right main fuel tank was empty and the left main tank contained a small amount of unusable fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: N6377L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3548 - Airframe hours: 5878 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Black Hole Enterprises, Ltd. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 1997, 25 hours before - Departed: 3KM - Destination: 3KM - Airport: 3KM, Jabara, runway 18, 6,100 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 447 total, 1 in this make and model, 355 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: 3KM ## 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 19971216038999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971216038999A), Dec 16, 1997: Piper PA24250, Wichita, KS, Substantial damage. Student swithced tanks on final. Engine quit. CFI switched back to fuller tank. No restart. Folded gear soft field. (-23) switched to fuel tank which was empty… 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.