# NTSB FTW01LA094: Piper PA-25-235, N4514Y, Pearland, TX, April 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 2001, 19:30 local (Apr 7, 2001, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX - Coordinates: 29.549968, -95.270362 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5500&lon=-95.2704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52040/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA094 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion while in the traffic pattern. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot returned to his home base after a banner towing flight. He experienced difficulty releasing the banner and landed on the grass between two runways. He dragged the banner on the ground and it eventually released; however, he was too close to the end of the runway to stop, so he performed a go-around. While he was in the traffic pattern, "he ran out of fuel" and the engine "quit." The pilot was unable to make it back to the runway and elected to make a forced landing into trees in a residential area. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the trees. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 2001, at 1930 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee single-engine airplane, N4514Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees in a residential area during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on approach at Clover Field, Pearland, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by Night Hawk Aerial Advertising of Pearland, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner towing flight. The local flight originated from Clover Field at 1715. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the pilot stated that he returned to Clover Field after a banner towing flight over downtown Houston. He stated that he experienced difficulty releasing the banner and landed on the grass between runways 14L and 14R. He stated that he dragged the banner on the ground and it eventually released; however, he was too close to the end of the runway to stop, so he performed a go-around. The pilot told the FAA inspector that while he was in the traffic pattern "he ran out of fuel" and the engine "quit." The pilot was unable to make it back to the runway and elected to make a forced landing into trees in a residential area. The airplane impacted the trees, its left wing separated, and the right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4514Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4514Y-2013-09-16), registration cancelled 2013-09-16, S/N 25-4066, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-4066 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Night Hawk Aerial Advertising - Registered owner: Charles Stuart Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: LVJ, Clover Field, runway 14L, 2,800 × 90 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 5, 2000; seat: center; flight hours: 801 total, 137 in this make and model, 739 as pilot in command, 147 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 15 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast ## 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 20010406006079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010406006079A), Apr 6, 2001: Lear 25, Pearland, TX, No damage. (-19) On April 6, 2001 at 1953 CDT, a Piper PA-25-235 pawnee single-engine airplane, N4514Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees in a residential… ## Other investigations on N4514Y (2) 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 DFW05LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA113), Apr 29, 2005: Piper PA-25-235 (N4514Y), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation in detecting contaminated fuel. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. - [NTSB MKC70D0030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70D0030), May 27, 1969: Piper PA-25 (N4514Y), Wilsonville, NE, substantial damage 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.