# NTSB DEN03LA009: Piper PA-28-180, N33170, Salt Lake City, UT, October 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2002, 16:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Salt Lake City, UT - Coordinates: 40.788333, -111.977775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7883&lon=-111.9778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Salt Lake City Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 55951 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55951/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA009 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to continue the flight without stopping for fuel. ## 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 - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The pilot estimated there was 32 to 33 gallons of fuel on board (the fuel level was just below the tabs in the tank, which indicate approximately 17 gallons in each tank) when he took off. Approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes later, the engine began "running rough." The pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to land at the international airport. The engine then lost all power and the propeller began windmilling. At best glide speed, the pilot was unable to glide to the airport and made a forced landing on a cloverleaf of an interstate highway. During the landing the airplane struck a corrugated metal drainage culvert, collapsing the nose and right main landing gear. The salvage company that retrieved the airplane drained slightly more than 1 quart of fuel from both fuel tanks and the fuel strainer. No fuel stains were noted on the wings or underneath of the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2002, at 1655 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N33170, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a highway cloverleaf approximately 1/2-mile short of runway 35 at the Salt Lake City, Utah, International Airport. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Mesquite, Nevada, approximately 1335 Pacific daylight time, and was en route to Bountiful, Utah. The following is based on a telephone conversation with, and the accident report submitted by, the pilot. After servicing the airplane with fuel, he estimated there was 32 to 33 gallons of fuel on board because the fuel level was just below the tabs in the tank, which indicate approximately 17 gallons in each tank. The en route portion of the flight into the Salt Lake City area, at 9,500 feet msl (mean sea level), was uneventful. Approximately 1650, after descending to 6,000 feet msl and obtaining clearance to transit Class B airspace (TCA, or Terminal Control Area), the engine began "running rough." The airplane was then approximately 5 miles southeast of the Salt Lake City International Airport. After efforts to restore full power failed, the pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to land on runway 35 at Salt Lake City International Airport. The engine then lost all power and the propeller began windmilling. After establishing the best glide speed of 80 mph, the pilot was unable to glide to the airport, and he made a forced landing on a cloverleaf on Interstate Highway 80. During the landing the airplane struck a corrugated metal drainage culvert, collapsing the nose and right main landing gear. According to an FAA aviation safety inspector who responded to the scene, approximately 1/3-gallon of fuel was drained from the airplane's fuel system. The salvage company that retrieved the airplane reported draining slightly more than 1 quart of fuel from both fuel tanks and the fuel strainer. No fuel stains were noted on the wings or underneath the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33170](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33170), registered now, S/N 28-7505129, built 1975 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7505129 - Airframe hours: 3705 - Engines: Lycoming L-19869-36A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul C. Droz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2002, 94 hours before - Departed: 67L, Mesquite, NV - Destination: BTF, Bountiful, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 345 total, 325 in this make and model, 307 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 1 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 20021018028649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021018028649A), Oct 18, 2002: Piper PA28180, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) During a flight from mesquite, NV. To bountiful skypark, UT. N33170 experienced loss of power. The pilot requested an immediate landing at Salt Lake City… ## Other investigations on N33170 (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 SEA03LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA177), Aug 23, 2003: Piper PA-28-180 (N33170), Nampa, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. A factor was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing. 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.