# NTSB DEN90LA039: Piper PA-28-140, N5693U, Provo, UT, January 12, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1990, 20:00 local (Jan 12, 1990, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Provo, UT
- Coordinates: 40.220607, -111.690559 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2206&lon=-111.6906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17879
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17879/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA039

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO PILOT MISJUDGEMENT OF FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRIP AND A FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE EN ROUTE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ON APPROACH TO RWY 13, THE ENGINE RAN OUT OF FUEL AND QUIT. HE SAID HE UNDERESTIMATED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REQUIRED FOR THE TRIP, AND THAT THE PLANE USED MORE FUEL THAN THE OPERATORS MANUAL PREDICTED. A POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN BY AN FAA INSPECTOR RESULTED IN A NORMAL RUN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5693U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5693U-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 28-26492, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-26492
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Svenn Eric Jacobsen
- Departed: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA
- Destination: PVU, PROVO, UT
- Airport: PVU, Provo, runway 13, 7,091 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 776 total, 455 in this make and model, 703 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900111035599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900111035599A), Jan 11, 1990: Piper PA28140, Provo, UT, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on approach to destination. Struck fence posts short of runway.

## Other investigations on N5693U (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 OAK71DYA92](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK71DYA92), Jun 25, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N5693U), Mariposa, CA, substantial damage

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.

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