# NTSB FTW04LA015: Piper PA-28-161, N8090E, Henryetta, OK, October 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 2003, 12:54 local (18:54 UTC) - Place: Henryetta, OK - Coordinates: 35.406665, -96.015556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4067&lon=-96.0156&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Oklahoma City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58237/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA015 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the inadequate inflight planning procedures for a cross country flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence ## Analysis Approximately 20-30 minutes into the cross-country flight, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The 37-hour student pilot executed a forced landing in a field after an unsuccessful effort to restart the engine. During the landing, the airplane impacted a fence, small trees, and barb wire. Examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained structural damage, the right elevator was separated, and the right landing gear was collapsed underneath the airplane. The engine was test run for several minutes on both fuel tanks. The left fuel tank contained less than 1 quart of fuel, and the right fuel tank was full. The fuel selector was determined to be operating normally in all settings. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 2003, approximately 1254 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-161 single-engine airplane, N8090E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Henryetta, Oklahoma. The student pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country flight. The flight departed Davis Field Airport (MKO), near Muskogee, Oklahoma, at 1215, and was destined for the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (OUN), near Norman, Oklahoma. The 37-hour student pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), "20-30 minutes after takeoff, the engine quit." The flight was provided a heading by Fort Worth Center toward Henryetta Municipal Airport (F10), near Henryetta, Oklahoma; however, the pilot was unable to reach the airport and landed in a field. The student pilot waited to switch the fuel tanks for the first time until after leaving MKO. The engine was still running when she switched the tanks. Maintenance personnel started the engine, and ran it for several minutes on both fuel tanks. Unusable fuel was used in the left tank, and after running the engine on the left tank, less than 1 quart of fuel was drained from it. The right fuel tank was full. The fuel selector was later tested, and determined to be operating normally in all settings. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the left wing tip was ripped back, and the right landing gear was folded underneath the airplane. The FAA inspector added that the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was armed, and there was evidence of fuel at the accident site. The left fuel tank had a small amount of fuel in the tank, and the right fuel tank was full. The fuel selector was found on the right fuel tank position. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) recommendation section, the operator stated, "Had she employed fuel management procedures (switching tanks every 30 minutes in flight and switching to fullest tank prior to each landing), upon switching to the right tank for the first time, if she had experienced an engine failure, she would have been able to switch back to the left tank and perhaps gotten the engine started." He also reported that keeping the fuel levels balanced would have made it easier to maintain straight flight during her emergency landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8090E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8090E), registered now, S/N 28-8016072, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016072 - Airframe hours: 4276.1 - Engines: Lycoming L12612-39A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kathleen Hasson - Registered owner: Randall Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 6, 2003, 63.9 hours before - Departed: MKO, Muskogee, OK - Destination: OUN, Norman, OK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 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 20031026027969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031026027969A), Oct 26, 2003: Piper PA28161, Henryetta, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated she had engine failure and did not switch fuel tanks as she knew she was on the fullest tank. She was unable to restart the engine and made… 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.