- Date
- July 13, 1996, 07:40 local (12:40 UTC)
- Place
- Rogers, AR
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N810EMPiper PA-32RT-300T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960713017089A
- Case key
- 19907
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
fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel. Factors were the below landing minimums weather conditions and 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
According to witnesses and law enforcement personnel at the accident site, the pilot executed 3 missed approaches at the Rogers Municipal Airport while attempting to land with weather below published minimums. At 0734, the pilot reported to ATC that he was low on fuel. Two minutes later, the pilot reported that he was out of fuel. The airplane was last observed on radar descending through 1,500 feet, and subsequently impacted trees approximately one mile northwest of the airport. Examination of the wreckage confirmed that both fuel cells were empty. Attempts to obtain a report from the pilot were unsuccessful.
Factual narrative
On July 13, 1996, at 0740 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, N810EM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power near Rogers, Arkansas. The instrument rated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries, and his passenger was seriously injured. The airplane, owned and operated by a private owner, was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which an instrument flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Tupelo, Mississippi, at approximately 0600.
According to witnesses and law enforcement personnel at the accident site, the pilot executed 3 missed approaches at the Rogers Municipal Airport while attempting to land with weather below published minimums. At 0734, the pilot reported to ATC that he was low on fuel. Two minutes later, the pilot reported that he was out of fuel. The airplane was last observed on radar descending through 1,500 feet, and subsequently impacted trees approximately one mile northwest of the airport.
The FAA inspector at the accident site reported that the left wing separated from the airframe and the airplane came to a stop on its left side. The empennage was found partially separated and twisted to the right. The nose and right main landing gear were collapsed and the engine penetrated into the cockpit area. No significant blade leading edge damage was found on either propeller blade. Examination of the fuel cells revealed by local authorities and the aircraft recovery crew revealed that no usable fuel remained in either fuel cell.
Repeated attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report from the pilot were unsuccessful. He could not be reached telephonically either. The enclosed NTSB form 6120.1/2 was completed by the owners of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N810EM
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-7887024
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ernie & Theresa Lundy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1996
- Departed
- TUP · Tupelo, MS
- Destination
- ROG
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 0.25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ROG
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.