- Date
- August 22, 1994, 22:30 local (Aug 23, 1994, 03:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tulsa, OK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N94AAPiper PA-28R-201
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940822022659A
- Case key
- 19144
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Loss of engine power following fuel starvation caused by improper tank selection by the pilot. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During initial climb the engine began 'running erratic.' The pilot performed the power loss procedures and initiated a turn back toward the airport. The airplane struck trees and came to rest inverted with structural damage to the left wing. The fuel selector was positioned on the right tank which contained no fuel. The left tank contained 16 gallons.
Factual narrative
On August 22, 1994, at 2230 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N94AA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airline transport rated pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight.
The Pilot/Operator report stated that the aircraft showed fuel in the right tank during the preflight. During the initial climbing turn the engine was running "erratic." The pilot switched fuel tanks and continued the emergency procedures. The airplane struck trees and subsequently came to rest inverted on a heading of north. The left wing was substantially damaged.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found no fuel in the right wing. The fuel selector was on the right tank. Approximately 16 gallons of fuel was found in the left tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N94AA
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-201
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-8118040
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1C6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lewis, Tom
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,428 total · 300 in this make and model · 339 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TUL, 5 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.