# NTSB FTW89FA155: Piper PA-28R-180, N7593J, Pauls Valley, OK, August 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1989, 21:04 local (Aug 29, 1989, 02:04 UTC)
- Place: Pauls Valley, OK
- Coordinates: 34.719665, -97.219718 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7197&lon=-97.2197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA155

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT, HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR IN MANAGING HIS FUEL SUPPLY, FUEL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO KNOW AND FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE TRANSITION TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT, THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE TREES.

## 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
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate transition/upgrade training, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED AT A NRBY ARPT BEFORE THIS PLT STARTED HIS FLT. HE TOOK OFF & FLEW THE ACFT FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO TISHOMINGO, OK, WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR PSND TO THE RIGHT TANK (THE TANK THAT WAS LAST USED BY THE PREVIOUS PLT).ON THE RTRN FLT TO OKLAHOMA CITY AT NIGHT, THE PLT'S FATHER NOTICED THE RIGHT GAGE INDCD EMPTY WHILE THE LEFT INDCD FULL. PLT COULD NOT FIND THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE & REQUESTED HELP FROM ARTCC. BEFORE THEY COULD HELP HIM, THE ENG LOST POWER. THERE HAPPENED TO BE A PLT AT ARTCC, WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PA-28. BY THE TIME HE WAS FOUND & INFO WAS PASSED TO THE PLT OF N7593J, THE ACFT HAD NRLY DSCNDD TO THE GROUND. AS THE PLT WAS REACHING FOR THE FUEL SELECTOR, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED. LATER, THE PLT SAID HE HAD NEVER OPERD THE LANDING GEAR OR FUEL SELECTOR DRG HIS CHECKOUT IN THE AIRCRAFT. HE THOUGHT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE FLOOR, BETWEEN THE SEATS, BUT IT WAS LOCATED ON THE LEFT WALL OF THE COCKPIT, NEAR THE PLT'S LEFT KNEE. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND PSND TO THE EMPTY RIGHT TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7593J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7593J-1991-12-05), registration cancelled 1991-12-05, S/N 28R30989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-30989
- Airframe hours: 3289
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Business Aircraft Limited
- Registered owner: Brevetti, Joseph C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 1989, 56 hours before
- Departed: OF9, TISHOMINGO, OK
- Destination: PWA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 83 total, 7 in this make and model, 41 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADM, 29 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 19890828032129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890828032129A), Aug 28, 1989: Piper PA28R180, Pauls Valley, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Ran a tank dry unable to find fuel selector,crashed into trees. Inadequate checkout in a complex aircraft.

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.