# NTSB FTW99LA002: Piper PA-28-180, N8194W, Horizon City, TX, October 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1998, 12:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Horizon City, TX - Coordinates: 31.589229, -106.219284 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5892&lon=-106.2193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44090/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA002 ## Probable cause The fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane. Factors were the unfavorable wind condition 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, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane lost engine power while in cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated that he encountered unforecasted headwinds that added 30 minutes to the planned flight time resulting in a total flight time of 4 hours. He observed the fuel gauges reading lower than he expected, but thought the airplane had enough fuel to make it to the West Texas Airport, El Paso, Texas, where he planned to refuel the airplane. Subsequently, the right tank ran out of fuel. Fifteen minutes later, when the left fuel tank was selected, the engine lost power. A forced landing was executed to rough and uneven terrain, 7 miles southeast of the West Texas Airport, El Paso, Texas. An FAA inspector examined the site and found no evidence of fuel at the site. He stated that the left tank was empty and the right tank contained 1/4 inches of fuel. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1998, at 1210 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N8194W, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Horizon City, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was seriously injured, one passenger sustained minor injures and two additional passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, that was en route to El Paso, Texas. The flight originated from the San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio, Texas, at 0830 and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that during the preflight inspection, he checked the airplane's fuel tanks and noted that each wing fuel tank was filled to within "1 inch" of the top. He added that no water was found when fuel was drained from each of the airplane's three fuel sumps. The pilot who had accumulated a total of 5,700 flight hours, calculated a flight time of 3 hours and 30 minutes for the flight from San Antonio to El Paso, where he planned to refuel the airplane. The pilot stated that once airborne, the airplane encountered unforecasted headwinds and he recalculated the time en route to be a total of four hours. During the flight the pilot observed that the fuel gauges were reading lower than he expected, but he thought the airplane had enough fuel to reach the West Texas Airport, El Paso, Texas. Subsequently, the right tank ran out of fuel. Fifteen minutes later, after flying for a total of 3 hours and 50 minutes, the left tank ran out of fuel and the engine lost power. A forced landing was executed to rough and uneven terrain, 7 miles southeast of the West Texas Airport. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and reported that ground scars indicated that the airplane initially impacted a sandy, brush covered "hillock", approximately 10 feet in diameter. The airplane came to rest upright on a second hillock, 35 feet from the initial impact point. The left fuel drain was opened and no fuel came out. The right fuel drain was not accessible. No fuel was found on the ground in the vicinity of the airplane. A stick was inserted into each fuel tank to determine the level of fuel in each tank. The left tank was empty and the right tank contained 1/4 inches of fuel. The FAA inspector added that the lower section of the engine firewall was damaged. The right wheel was found separated from the airplane and the right landing gear strut assembly was bent rearward, toward the trailing edge of the flap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8194W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8194W-2016-02-17), registration cancelled 2016-02-17, S/N 28-2321, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 282321 - Airframe hours: 2680 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William P. Hedges - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 7, 1998, 30 hours before - Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; 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: 5,700 total, 600 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 18 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ELP, 7 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 19981003039899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981003039899A), Oct 3, 1998: Piper PA28180, Horizon City, TX, Substantial damage. (.4) The airplane lost engine power while in cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated that he encountered unforecasted headwinds that added 30… 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.