# NTSB DEN03LA021: Piper PA-28-180, N9020J, Vernal, UT, November 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 2002, 15:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Vernal, UT - Coordinates: 40.357498, -109.620552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3575&lon=-109.6206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56159 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56159/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA021 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision. Factors contributing to the accident were fuel exhaustion and the fog. ## Analysis The pilot took off for his destination airport after waiting 2 hours at an intermediate stop due to weather. Approaching Vernal, Utah, the pilot said he encountered weather again. He deviated south and then back north trying to locate a path around the weather. He said he burned an hour's worth of fuel during the deviation. The pilot said he looked at his fuel and determined that he would need to land and get gas. The pilot said there was a layer of fog over the valley and over Vernal Airport. The pilot deviated first to Shane, Utah, then went to Roosevelt, Utah, and then back northeast toward Vernal. At that time he noted he had 7 gallons of fuel remaining. As the pilot was preparing to land at Vernal, the airplane ran out of gas on one tank. Approximately 4 miles southwest of the Vernal Airport, the pilot said he ran out of gas on the other tank. The pilot said he came out of the clouds 400 feet above a highway. He said there was mountainous terrain all around him. The pilot said he saw a plateau ahead. He said he pulled the airplane up and put it down on the plateau, breaking the landing gear aft and crushing the firewall and bottom fuselage upward and aft. An examination of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in either fuel tank. An examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 2002, at 1540 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9020J, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted on to a plateau, 6 miles west of Vernal, Utah. Prior to the accident, the airplane's engine lost power. Visual meteorological conditions on top prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. A third passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Laramie, Wyoming, and was en route to Provo, Utah. The pilot said he had left Fort Collins, Colorado, earlier that day with full fuel. While en route toward Provo, he said they encountered weather. The pilot elected to land at Laramie and wait for the weather to clear. The pilot said they waited for 2 hours. After checking the weather, the pilot said they took off from Laramie and resumed their trip to Provo. Approaching Vernal, Utah, the pilot said he encountered weather again. He said he deviated south and then back north trying to locate a path around the weather. He said he burned an hour's worth of fuel during the deviation. The pilot said he looked at his fuel and determined that he would need to land and get gas. The pilot said there was a layer of fog over the valley and over Vernal Airport. He said he deviated first to Shane, Utah, then went to Roosevelt, Utah, and then back northeast toward Vernal. At that time he noted he had 7 gallons of fuel remaining. The pilot said he spoke to another pilot who was doing instrument approaches at Roosevelt. That pilot told him the weather was too bad to land at Roosevelt, and that he was going to Vernal. The pilot said that the other pilot told him that he could get into Vernal. The pilot said he was right above the clouds at 2,000 feet agl (above ground level). He said he ran out of gas on one tank 15 miles from the airport. Approximately 4 miles southwest of the Vernal Airport, the pilot said he ran out of gas on the other tank. The pilot said he came out of the clouds 400 feet above a highway. He said there was mountainous terrain all around him. The pilot said he saw a plateau ahead. He said he pulled the airplane up and put it down on the plateau. An examination of the airplane showed that all three landing gear were broken aft. The bottom of the engine cowling and bottom fuselage skin were crushed upward. The bottom of the firewall was bent aft. The right wing, right flap, and right aileron were bent upward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the two wing fuel tanks showed no fuel in either tank. ## 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 - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9020J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9020J-2003-12-16), registration cancelled 2003-12-16, S/N 28-3048, built 1966 (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: 28-3048 - Airframe hours: 8096 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kevin Lebaron - Registered owner: Robert L. Gates - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 2002, 50 hours before - Departed: LAR, Laramie, WY - Destination: PVU, Provo, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 98 total, 23 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: VEL, 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 20021127032949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021127032949A), Nov 27, 2002: Piper PA28180, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was VFR on top of a fog layer, ran out of fuel and landed in a field 6 miles west of Vernal ut. (.19) on November 27, 2002, at 1540 mountain… ## Other investigations on N9020J (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW97LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA026), Oct 24, 1996: Piper PA-28C-180 (N9020J), Sterling, CO, no damage. Probable cause: improper starting procedure used by the airport employee. Factors relating to the accident were: the inoperative starter, and failure of the pilot to seek proper assistance. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.