# NTSB FTW98LA322: Piper PA-28-181, N626BP, Fairview, OK, July 20, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 1998, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Fairview, OK - Coordinates: 36.260211, -98.470619 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2602&lon=-98.4706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA322 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43175/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA322 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was 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, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis While en route to the Clinton Municipal Airport, Clinton, Oklahoma, the airplane encountered a 'brisk' headwind. Approximately 35 miles north of Fairview, Oklahoma, the pilot 'realized' that the aircraft was low on fuel. He reported the fuel situation to the fixed base operator (FBO) at the Fairview Municipal Airport and continued towards the airport. About 1/2 mile north of the airport, the aircraft 'ran out of fuel'. A forced landing was initiated to a field, and during the landing roll, the airplane impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that prior to the flight the fuel level was 'above the tank tabs, approximately 36 gallons.' ## Factual narrative On July 20, 1998, about 1000 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, N626BP, registered to and operated by Sabetha Flyers, Inc., of Sabetha, Kansas, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Fairview, Oklahoma. The private pilot and 3 passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 cross country flight. The business flight originated from Sabetha, Kansas, about 2 hours and forty minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that while en route to the Clinton Municipal Airport, Clinton, Oklahoma, the airplane encountered a "brisk" headwind. Approximately 35 miles north of Fairview, Oklahoma, he "realized" that the aircraft was low on fuel. The pilot reported the fuel situation to the fixed base operator (FBO) at the Fairview Municipal Airport and continued toward the airport. The pilot further reported that the aircraft "ran out of fuel" about 1/2 mile north of the airport. A forced landing was initiated to a field. During the landing roll the airplane impacted a ditch and came to a stop upright. The pilot also reported that prior to the flight the fuel level was "above the tank tabs, approximately 36 gallons." Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed that the all of the landing gear assemblies were separated from the aircraft, both wings had structural damage, the engine was displaced downward, and the firewall was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N626BP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N626BP), registered now, S/N 28-7790552, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7790552 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sabetha Flyers, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: K83, SABETHA, KS - Destination: CLK, CLINTON, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 203 total, 85 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: END, 26 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 19980720016199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980720016199A), Jul 20, 1998: Piper PA28181, Fairview, OK, Substantial damage. Lost power enroute. Was low on fuel and tried for 6K4 but out of fuel on short final. Hit 2 ditched severed gear. (.4) on July 20, 1998, about 1000 central… 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.