# NTSB DFW07CA034: Piper PA-24-250, N5697P, Jacksboro, TX, December 3, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 3, 2006, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Jacksboro, TX - Coordinates: 33.2238888888889, -98.1413888888889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2239&lon=-98.1414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 64965 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64965/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel calculations, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable terrain encountered during the emergency landing. ## Analysis The 385-hour private pilot reported that the fuel tanks on the single engine airplane were topped off with 90 gallons of aviation fuel for the 874.6 nautical mile cross country flight that originated at 0900. At 1530, while the airplane was in cruise flight about 10 minutes from his intended destination, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a rough, mesquite covered field. The airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing; however, the pilot and his passenger were able to egress from the airplane unassisted. The FAA inspector who traveled to the accident site discovered that the fuel cells were empty. The pilot added that he "ran out of fuel" and he had relied on a fuel computer that indicated there was 14 gallons (1.1 hours) of fuel remaining when the engine lost power. He added that the engine power loss could have been prevented if he had used a fuel burn rate of 13 gallons per hour and had restricted his endurance to a maximum of 6 hours. ## Factual narrative The 385-hour private pilot reported that the fuel tanks on the single engine airplane were topped off with 90 gallons of aviation fuel for the 874.6 nautical mile cross country flight that originated at 0900. At 1530, while the airplane was in cruise flight about 10 minutes from his intended destination, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a rough, mesquite covered field. The airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing; however, the pilot and his passenger were able to egress from the airplane unassisted. The FAA inspector who traveled to the accident site discovered that the fuel cells were empty. The pilot added that he "ran out of fuel" and he had relied on a fuel computer that indicated there was 14 gallons (1.1 hours) of fuel remaining when the engine lost power. He added that the power loss could have been prevented if he had used a fuel burn rate of 13 gallons per hour and had restricted his flight to a maximum of 6 hours. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5697P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5697P-2007-01-31), registration cancelled 2007-01-31, S/N 24-770, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24770 - Engines: Lycoming 0-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Billie Joe Eaton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: XPB, Bridgeport, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 385 total, 67 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20061203025909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061203025909A), Dec 3, 2006: Piper PA24250, Jacksboro, TX. (-23) Off-field landing due to fuel starvation. During the telephone interview with the pilot in command (PIC) the day of the accident, the pilot reported that… ## Other investigations on N5697P (3) 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 FTW83LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA013), Oct 13, 1982: Piper PA-24-250 (N5697P), Houston, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW70F0320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70F0320), Dec 12, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N5697P), Crane, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW67D0560](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67D0560), Apr 16, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N5697P), Stamford, TX, substantial damage 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.