# NTSB FTW97LA090: Piper PA-28-151, N8478F, Brownsville, TX, January 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 26, 1997, 18:25 local (Jan 27, 1997, 00:25 UTC) - Place: Brownsville, TX - Coordinates: 25.919336, -97.479782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9193&lon=-97.4798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20151 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20151/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA090 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Factors were the pilot's lack of preflight planning and the 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During the landing approach, the airplane was about 1 mile from the runway threshold at an altitude of 500 feet AGL when the engine lost power. Total flight time was 4 hours and 18 minutes. The chief flight instructor found that the fuel tanks were intact with no fuel in the tanks or the gascolator. The assistant director of maintenance inspected the engine and the fuel system and found no discrepancies. The operator reported that the student was unable to produce any flight planning or fuel planning for the return flight. An ATC controller stated that the pilot had terminated flight following prior to maneuvering for approximately 15 minutes before proceeding to the destination airport. En route winds aloft were 150 degrees at 14 knots. The operator conducted a test flight in the make and model of airplane along the flight route with a headwind of 3 knots and the fuel used was 38.4 gallons (total usable fuel 46 gallons). The operator stated that 13 knot headwinds and 15 minutes of flight maneuvering would have deplete the remaining fuel. ## Factual narrative On January 26, 1997, at 1825 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N8478F, operated by Southwind Aviation as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power during an approach to runway 17 at the Brownsville International Airport, Brownsville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional cross country flight and a VFR flight plan was filed. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Waco, Texas, at 1407. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the operator and the pilot reported the following information. The private pilot was enrolled in an instrument rating curriculum and was building cross country time toward the instrument rating. The flight departed Brownsville at 0930 and arrived at Waco, Texas, at approximately 1230. After adding 30 gallons of fuel, the flight departed Waco Regional Airport for the return flight to Brownsville. During the landing approach at Brownsville, the airplane was about 1 mile from the runway threshold at an altitude of 500 feet AGL when the engine lost power. A forced landing was made to a field and during the landing roll the right wing struck a tree and the airplane turned 180 degrees before coming to a stop. Structural damage occurred to the right wing, elevator and rudder. Upon reaching the airplane at approximately 2000, the chief flight instructor examined the airplane and found that the fuel tanks were intact. He determined that "there was no apparent fuel in the gascolator," and there "was no fuel available in either tank." The assistant director of maintenance inspected the engine and the fuel system and found no discrepancies. The operator reported that the student was "unable to produce any flight planning or fuel planning for the return flight from Waco." During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, ATC controllers stated that the pilot had received flight following until south of Corpus Christi, Texas, where he terminated the service. Subsequently, the aircraft was tracked and observed maneuvering in the vicinity of the Port Mansfield Airport for approximately 15 minutes before proceeding to Brownville. Winds aloft for the route of flight were from 150 degrees at 14 knots. The operator conducted a test flight in the make and model of airplane along the flight route from Waco to Brownsville and the fueled used during the flight with a headwind of 3 knots was 38.4 gallons (total usable fuel 46 gallons). The operator stated that 13 knot headwinds and 15 minutes of flight maneuvering at Port Mansfield would have deplete the remaining fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8478F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8478F-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 28-7715269, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7715269 - Airframe hours: 4370 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southwind Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Avlease, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 6, 1997, 33 hours before - Departed: ACT, WACO, TX - Destination: BRO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BRO, Brownsville, runway 17, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 127 in this make and model, 71 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19970127000909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970127000909A), Jan 27, 1997: Piper PA28151, Brownsville, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power on approach. Hit tree landing in a field. Fuel tanks were empty.(-23) returning from waco, Texas (4:30) minute flight) the aircraft lost power and… 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.