# NTSB FTW93LA247: Piper PA-28-140, N471FT, Grand Prairie, TX, August 29, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1993, 21:39 local (Aug 29, 1993, 02:39 UTC) - Place: Grand Prairie, TX - Coordinates: 32.590881, -97.040054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5909&lon=-97.0401&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18822 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18822/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA247 ## Probable cause THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS, THE PILOT'S MISCALCULATION OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REQUIRED FOR THE FLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - wire,transmission - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT REFUELED THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE FINAL LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY AND HAD MISJUDGED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REACH HIS DESTINATION. EN ROUTE THERE WAS A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT INITIATED A NIGHT FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH WIRES AND TREES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1993, at 2139 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N471FT, was substantially damaged when it collided with wires and trees during a night forced landing following an engine power loss near Grand Prairie, Texas. The rental airplane, flown by a private pilot, was on a personal cross country flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and the two passengers received minor injuries. According to the pilot, he had departed the Addison Airport, with about 18 gallons of fuel aboard, and flown to Stephenville, Texas. He further stated that he did not refuel in Stephenville and indicated to the FAA coordinator that he had miscalculated the amount of fuel on board the airplane at the time of his departure. The pilot said that during the return flight, he ran out of fuel and executed a forced landing. Air Traffic Control attempted to give the pilot vectors to the Dallas Naval Air Station; however, the airplane was unable to make it to the runway. During the final descent, the airplane struck wires, trees, and then the ground. The occupants were able to extricate themselves and walk to a nearby road. The pilot was provided with a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report; however, he failed to return it during the investigation and numerous attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N471FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N471FT-1995-09-20), registration cancelled 1995-09-20, S/N 287325616 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7325616 - Airframe hours: 4286 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Memmi, Linsey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: SEP, STEPHENVILLE, TX - Destination: ADS, ADDISON, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 148 total, 13 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 200° at 12 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: NBE, 2 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 19930828031679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930828031679A), Aug 28, 1993: Piper PA28140, Grand Prairie, TX, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route at night. Struck wires and trees trying to land. 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.