# NTSB ERA09CA489: Piper J5A, N33078, Holland, MA, August 27, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 27, 2009, 17:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Holland, MA - Coordinates: 42.035556, -72.194442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0356&lon=-72.1944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74618 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA489 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74618/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74618 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA489 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7100702), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he began the day with an unknown quantity of fuel. Shortly after departing on his second flight of the day, the airplane suffered a complete loss of engine power. During the subsequent forced landing, the left main landing gear caught tall grass and ground-looped the airplane, which resulted in substantial damage to the left landing gear, left wing strut, and left lower fuselage. Post accident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no odor of fuel, no fuel spillage, and 5 ounces of fuel in the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he began the day with an unknown quantity of fuel. Shortly after departing on his second flight of the day, the airplane suffered a complete loss of engine power. During the subsequent forced landing, the left main landing gear caught tall grass and ground-looped the airplane, which resulted in substantial damage to the left landing gear, left wing strut, and left lower fuselage. Post accident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no odor of fuel, no fuel spillage, and 5 ounces of fuel in the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33078](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33078), registered now, S/N 5-426, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J5A - Registry model: [Piper J5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (registry code 7100702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5-426 - Airframe hours: 9513 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Horan Mark E - Registered owner: Mark E Horan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 2009, 56 hours before - Departed: 3B0, Southbridge, MA - Destination: 7B6, Warehouse Point, CT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 443 total, 400 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KPBL, 29 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 20090827025409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090827025409A), Aug 27, 2009: Piper J5A, Holland, MA, Substantial damage. Mr. Horan departed southbridge, MA, enroute for a short flight to the skylark, CT airport. Approximately 9 miles south of the airport, the aircraft experienced… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74618. 813 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record with FAA ASI (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20with%20FAA%20ASI-Master.PDF 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.