# NTSB FTW87FA168: Piper PA-28-181, N1976T, Jenks, OK, July 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1987, 21:20 local (Jul 14, 1987, 02:20 UTC)
- Place: Jenks, OK
- Coordinates: 36.000858, -95.969657 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0009&lon=-95.9697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22258/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA168

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot passenger (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot passenger (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ALTHOUGH IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT LED TO THIS EVENT WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS OUT OF FUEL OVER THE RADIO AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE FOUND AT THE CRASH SITE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1976T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1976T-1995-07-26), registration cancelled 1995-07-26, S/N 287690462 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7690462
- Airframe hours: 2344
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sittler Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 13, 1987, 67 hours before
- Departed: MEM, MEMPHIS, TN
- Destination: RVS, TULSA, OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: RVS, Riverside, runway 36, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 172 total, 50 in this make and model, 145 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUL, 11 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 19870713034459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870713034459A), Jul 13, 1987: Piper PA28181, Jenks, OK, Substantial damage. Fuel exhaustion. Crashed into a power pole and powerlines on a straight in approach to the airport.

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.

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