# NTSB ERA11CA013: Piper PA28, N57302, Louisville, KY, October 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 7, 2010, 23:11 local (Oct 8, 2010, 03:11 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.228054, -85.663612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2281&lon=-85.6636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77524/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77524 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102802), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he estimated the airplane's fuel supply during his preflight planning by calculating the fuel consumed during the two previous flights. The pilot departed for his destination and planned to land with 45 minutes of fuel reserve. During the flight, the airplane encountered wind stronger than forecast and the airplane consumed more fuel than he had estimated. On descent for landing, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and the pilot attempted to glide to the runway. As the airplane's airspeed and altitude decreased, the pilot opted to land on the freeway below. The airplane touched down in the middle lanes, skidded along the pavement, and came to rest in a ditch. During the accident sequence the airplane incurred damage to the right wing and horizontal stabilizer. Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both tanks were absent of fuel and that there was no evidence of a preimpact mechanical anomaly. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during his preflight planning, he estimated the fuel to be at 40 gallons by calculating fuel burn from two previous flights. The pilot departed for destination planning to land with 45 minutes of fuel reserve. The pilot stated that the airplane encountered winds stronger than forecast en-route and the airplane consumed more fuel than estimated. On descent for landing, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to glide to the runway; however, he decided to land on a freeway when "airspeed and maintenance on the glide slope slipped away." The airplane landed in the middle lanes of the freeway, skidded on the pavement and came to rest in a ditch resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and horizontal stabilizer. Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that both tanks were absent of fuel and that no pre-impact mechanical anomalies existed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57302](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57302-2012-08-08), registration cancelled 2012-08-08, S/N 28-7425085, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (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: 28-7425085 - Airframe hours: 4881 - Engines: LYCOMING O320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Benjamin L Price - Registered owner: Benjamin L Price - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2010, 6 hours before - Departed: AUO, Auburn, AL - Destination: LOU, Louisville, KY - Airport: LOU, Bowman Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 278 total, 208 in this make and model, 221 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: LOU, 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 20101007049069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101007049069A), Oct 7, 2010: Piper PA-28-140, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. The aircraft was flown VFR, from auburn, al direct to Louisville, KY. Pilot plus 3 passengers. The aircraft ran out of fuel and landed aproximately 1 mile… ## Other investigations on N57302 (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 NYC80FNC16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FNC16), Mar 15, 1980: Piper PA-28 (N57302), Eliot, ME, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77524. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 762 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record-FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record-FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Picture of Rear of Aircraft (courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Picture%20of%20Rear%20of%20Aircraft%20(courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Picture of Front of Aircraft (courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Picture%20of%20Front%20of%20Aircraft%20(courtesy%20of%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. --- 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.