# NTSB FTW03LA060: Piper PA-28-235, N8925W, Bryson, TX, December 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 2002, 02:30 local (08:30 UTC) - Place: Bryson, TX - Coordinates: 33.10889, -98.555557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1089&lon=-98.5556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56197/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA060 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate inflight planning and decision which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane and dark night conditions were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to the night VFR flight, the airplane's left and right main fuel tanks were 1/2 full, the right tip tank was 1/2 full, and the left tip tank was empty. The pilot did not refuel the airplane prior to departure. During the return flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks approximately every 20 to 30 minutes, and the airplane experienced a 20 to 25 knot headwind. Approximately 8 nautical miles east of the destination, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. A passenger, who was seated in the right front seat, stated that after the engine lost power, the pilot "...tried the other 3 tanks for fuel and could not find any." There was no evidence of fuel found at the accident site. ## Factual narrative On December 14, 2002, approximately 0230 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-235 single-engine airplane, N8925W, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Bryson, Texas. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Shreveport Downtown Airport (DTN), Shreveport, Louisiana, approximately 0000, and was destined for the Graham Municipal Airport (E15), Graham, Texas. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he and his passengers departed E15 on December 13, 2002, approximately 1800, with a planned flight to DTN and a return to E15. The pilot stated that prior to the departure from E15, the airplane was full of fuel minus a "few gallons in one wing tip fuel tank." Prior to the departure from DTN back to E15, the airplane's left and right main fuel tanks were 1/2 full, the right tip tank was 1/2 full, and the left tip tank was empty. The pilot did not refuel the airplane prior to departure from DTN. During the return flight to E15, the pilot switched fuel tanks approximately every 20 to 30 minutes. The pilot added that during the return flight, the airplane experienced a 20 to 25 knot headwind. Approximately 8 nautical miles east of E15, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. The pilot stated that the total flight time from E15 to DTN to the accident site was approximately 3.5 hours. The passenger, who was seated in the right front seat, reported that approximately 9 miles from E15, the airplane ran out of fuel. He stated that after the engine lost power, the pilot "...tried the other 3 tanks for fuel and could not find any." An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that there was no evidence of fuel found at the accident site. The inspector stated that the right wing was separated, the propeller blades were bent aft, and the landing gear was collapsed. The airplane was equipped with left and right main and wing tip fuel tanks. The main fuel tanks capacity was 48 total gallons of usable fuel (24 gallons per side), and the wing tip tanks capacity was 36 total gallons usable fuel (18 gallons per side). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8925W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8925W-2005-06-15), registration cancelled 2005-06-15, S/N 28-10490, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10490 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eddie Chambers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2002 - Departed: DTN, Shreveport, LA - Destination: E15, Graham, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 20, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 342 total, 16 in this make and model, 301 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 305° at 25 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg ## 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 20021214034339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021214034339A), Dec 14, 2002: Piper PA28235, Bryson, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft departed graham, TX. On 12/13/02 @ 1630 local with full tanks except right wingtip tank. Flight around tca enroute to shreveport, LA. Departed… 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.