# NTSB CHI98LA081: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N8277W, Naperville, IL, January 19, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 1998, 20:00 local (Jan 19, 1998, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Naperville, IL - Coordinates: 41.729732, -88.119262 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7297&lon=-88.1193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10820/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA081 ## Probable cause improper preflight planning and preparation by the pilot which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The pilot said he was about 7-miles from his home airport when the '...engine began to run rough and quit.' He said he attempted to restart the engine without success. After he picked out a field for a forced landing the pilot said the engine restarted and ran rough. He said the '...prop was windmilling and the engine started sputtering just before touchdown...' on a snow-covered field. The on-scene investigation revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would prevent flight. No evidence of fuel was found in the fuel tanks, on the ground near the airplane, the fuel servo, fuel manifold, or injector ports. The throttle arm was found in the 'Closed' position on the throttle body. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 1998, at 2000 central standard time (cst), a Piper PA-28RT-201T, N8277W, piloted by an instrument rated private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the ground following a total loss of engine power. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was seriously injured. The flight departed Naperville, Illinois, at 1900 cst. According to the pilot's written statement, he was flying his airplane toward the airport. He reported that "...approximately 7-miles out from LL10 [the airport identifier] I switched tanks. Cont'd approach to LL10 and the engine began running rough and quit. I then set up for best glide, put [the] fuel pump on, switched tanks back to original [position]. Tried to restart. Engine would not start." The pilot reported he picked out a field in which to land and at an altitude of 2,000 feet above mean sea level the engine started and ran rough. He said, "The prop was windmilling and the engine started sputtering just before touch down." The Will County Illinois, Sheriff's Department Deputy interviewed the pilot about 6-hours after the accident. The Deputy reported the pilot said "...his engine lost power, possibly [due] to frozen water in the fuel line." The Sheriff Department's report said the pilot stated he "...picked a snow-covered field to land in." The report said the pilot stated that "When his front landing gear wheel made contact with the ground, the wheel got caught in the dirt and snow. Aircraft then cartwheeled end-over-end and slid [to a stop]." A Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) conducted the on-scene investigation. His report states, "There was no evidence of fuel in the [fuel] tanks, nor was there any fuel discoloration in the area of the fuel tanks or anywhere else at the crash site." Examination of the engine revealed no fuel in the fuel servo, fuel manifold or injector ports. The throttle was in the "Closed" position according to the arm's position on the throttle body. There were no mechanical anomalies with the engine, and its accessories, or the airframe that would have prevented flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8277W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8277W-1998-07-02), registration cancelled 1998-07-02, S/N 28R8131007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-8131007 - Airframe hours: 2744 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: D&S Formal, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 1997, 6 hours before - Departed: LL10 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 616 total, 271 in this make and model, 563 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/bright - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DPA, 15 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 19980119000469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980119000469A), Jan 19, 1998: Piper PA28RT201T, Naperville, IL, Destroyed. Collided with ground VFR in IMC. Spatial disorientation indicated. (.4)the pilot said he was about 7-miles from his home airport when the '...engine began to… 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.