# NTSB FTW95LA070: Piper PA-28R-200, N2874R, Oklahoma City, OK, December 22, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 1994, 18:57 local (Dec 22, 1994, 00:57 UTC) - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.500244, -97.639862 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5002&lon=-97.6399&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19325/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA070 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER FUEL SELECTOR POSITION. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel tank selector position - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL INSTRUMENT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THEY WERE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN OF THEIR DESTINATION AIRPORT WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE (TIME) FOR THE STUDENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND ACCOMPLISH THE NEEDED MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OTHER TANK. A NIGHT FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED IN A FIELD WITH A DITCH AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE DITCH DURING ROLL-OUT. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 1994, at 1857 central standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N2874R, was substantially damaged during a night forced landing near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The private pilot and the instrument instructor pilot received minor injuries, while their passenger was seriously injured. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instrument instructional cross country flight. The enclosed Pilot/Operator reports contained the following information. The instrument training flight took off at approximately 1730 and was returning to its starting point. The flight was within 2 miles of the field when the engine lost power. The instructor pilot stated "I realized that the probable cause of our engine failure was due to fuel starvation." She attempted to reach the fuel selector to switch tanks, but was unable. She further stated that she directed the student pilot to switch tanks, but the pilot was also unable due to the dimly lit cockpit and his unfamiliarity with the aircraft. Because of the dark night conditions, a field with a ditch was selected for the forced landing. The airplane collided with the ditch during roll-out. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2874R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2874R-1995-04-24), registration cancelled 1995-04-24, S/N 28R35314 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35314 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Business Air Corp Aviation Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 3, 1994, 88 hours before - Departed: SWO, STILLWATER, OK - Destination: PWA, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,045 total, 107 in this make and model, 884 as pilot in command, 262 in the last 90 days, 114 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PWA, 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 19941221042009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941221042009A), Dec 21, 1994: Piper PA28R200, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. Instrument dual flight. Lost power on final. Ran tank dry. Unable reach fuel selector. Hit ditch, short of runway. 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.