# NTSB ERA18LA041: Piper PA28, N747KM, Brewton, AL, December 5, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 5, 2017, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Brewton, AL - Coordinates: 31.010833, -87.037223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0108&lon=-87.0372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96422/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96422 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA041 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: 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: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/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 was conducting an instrument flight rules cross-country flight. While descending out of 8,000 ft, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to divert to a nearby airport; however, there were strong headwinds and the airplane would not glide all the way to the airport, so he attempted to land in a field. The airplane collided with treetops and a fence during the off-airport landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the intact left-wing fuel tank only contained about 20 fluid ounces of fuel, while the impact-breached right-wing fuel tank was about 1/2 full. The fuel selector was found in the left fuel tank position. The examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot exhausted the airplane's fuel supply in the left fuel tank and did not switch the fuel selector to the right tank, which resulted in the total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 2017, about 1400 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N747KM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Brewton, Alabama. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight that departed Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), Atlanta, Georgia, and was destined for Pensacola International Airport (PNS), Pensacola, Florida. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, the airplane was in cruise flight, at 8,000 ft mean sea level, for "a couple hours" when the air traffic control (ATC) controller told him to descend to 4,000 ft and fly around some thunderstorms in that area. The pilot stated there were strong headwinds and he would have preferred to stay at the higher altitude, but complied with the direction from ATC. Subsequently, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and he notified ATC that he wanted to divert to Brewton Municipal Airport (12J), Brewton, Alabama. The pilot further stated that due to the strong headwind, he knew the airplane was not going to be able to glide to 12J, so he attempted to land in a field. During the approach to the field, the airplane collided with some tree tops and landed hard in the field. During the roll-out, the airplane contacted a fence post, which damaged the right wing. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane sustained damage to the landing gear fairings, right side of the fuselage, firewall, and right wing leading edge. There was additional damage to the horizontal stabilator, propeller and the right-wing fuel tank was breached and leaking fuel. The right-wing fuel tank was approximately ½ full. The left-wing fuel tank, which was undamaged, contained approximately 20 fluid ounces of fuel. One ounce of fuel was recovered from the firewall mounted fuel strainer bowl. The fuel selector valve was found in the left fuel tank position. The FAA inspector examined the engine and did not find any preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N747KM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747KM-2019-04-17), registration cancelled 2019-04-17, S/N 28-7305149, built 1972 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7305149 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 4344 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2017 - Departed: PDK, ATLANTA, GA - Destination: PNS, Pensacola, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 26, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 300 total, 83 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KNDZ, 18 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 20171205022719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171205022719A), Dec 5, 2017: Piper PA-28-180, Brewton, AL, Substantial damage. The pilot and one passenger were traveling from kpdk to kpns on an IFR flight plan. At 4000 feet, on the initial descent to kpns, the engine failed without… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96422. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478544&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478545&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Piper POH (item 3, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478546&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Piper%20POH-Master.PDF - Lycoming Operator's Manual - Fuel Flow vs. Percent Power Chart (item 4, .PDF, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478547&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lycoming%20Operator%27s%20Manual%20-%20Fuel%20Flow%20vs.%20Percent%20Power%20Chart-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 5, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Investigative Photos (item 6, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.