# NTSB ERA10CA214: Piper PA28, N4247T, Louisville, KY, April 7, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 6, 2010, 20:36 local (Apr 7, 2010, 00:36 UTC)
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Coordinates: 38.192222, -85.739997 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1922&lon=-85.7400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75670
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75670/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75670
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA214

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management.

## 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 PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he received a weather briefing prior to departing on the 277-nautical mile cross-country flight. The airplane's departure fuel level was "above the tabs, but not full." Information from the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) indicated that, when the fuel level was at the tabs, the fuel quantity was 35 gallons. The maximum usable fuel capacity was 48 gallons. The pilot stated that the weight of his baggage precluded him from operating with full fuel tanks, and that he encountered "stronger than expected headwinds" along the route of flight. About 2030, when the airplane was 1 mile from the destination airport, the engine "quit." The pilot executed a forced landing on a road, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that each of the airplane's fuel tanks contained approximately 1 to 2 cups of fuel. No fuel was found in the gascolator or the carburetor. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures, and in an interview with the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that he should have stopped for fuel en route. According to the POH, at 75 percent power, and operating with a "lean mixture," the airplane's fuel consumption rate was 10 gallons per hour.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he received a weather briefing prior to departing on the 277-nautical mile cross-country flight. The airplane's departure fuel level was "above the tabs, but not full." Information from the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) indicated that, when the fuel level was at the tabs, the fuel quantity was 35 gallons. The maximum usable fuel capacity was 48 gallons. The pilot stated that the weight of his baggage precluded him from operating with full fuel tanks, and that he encountered "stronger than expected headwinds" along the route of flight. About 2030, when the airplane was 1 mile from the destination airport, the engine "quit." The pilot executed a forced landing on a road, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that each of the airplane's fuel tanks contained approximately 1 to 2 cups of fuel. No fuel was found in the gascolator or the carburetor. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures, and in an interview with the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that he should have stopped for fuel en route. According to the POH, at 75 percent power, and operating with a "lean mixture," the airplane's fuel consumption rate was 10 gallons per hour.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4247T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4247T-2018-01-19), registration cancelled 2018-01-19, S/N 28-7205117 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7205117
- Airframe hours: 1354
- Engines: LYCOMING O360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Allen Friedlander
- Registered owner: Allen Friedlander
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2010
- Departed: Y47, New Hudson, MI
- Destination: SDF, Louisville, KY
- Airport: SDF, Louisville International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 190° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observed at: SDF, 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 20100406030839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100406030839A), Apr 6, 2010: Piper PA-28-180, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. A Piper PA-28-180 was enroute from Michigan to Louisville, KY (sdf) and ran out of fuel just short of rnwy 17 sdf. Aircraft hit hard on perimeter road at…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75670. 562 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 429 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF
- FAA Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot's Operating Handbook Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook%20Excerpts-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 5, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-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.

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