# NTSB GAA15CA261: Piper PA 28-181, N121LK, Lexington, NE, September 13, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 13, 2015, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Lexington, NE
- Coordinates: 40.7975, -99.754722 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7975&lon=-99.7547&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91990
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91990/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91990
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA261

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and loss of engine power. Additionally, the pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the emergency landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he exhausted all the fuel in both of the fuel tanks prior to reaching his destination, and was forced to maneuver for an emergency landing in a hay field. The pilot reported that after he lost sight of the hay bales that lined the field, he decided to "slightly pull up." Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and the right wing impacted the ground. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he exhausted all the fuel in both of the fuel tanks prior to reaching his destination, and was forced to maneuver for an emergency landing in a hay field. The pilot reported that after he lost sight of the hay bales that lined the field, he decided to "slightly pull up." Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and the right wing impacted the ground. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N121LK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121LK-2016-01-08), registration cancelled 2016-01-08, S/N 28-8190113, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-181 (181)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-8190113
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 3987
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hedgehoppers Flying Club Inc
- Registered owner: Hedgehoppers Flying Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 8, 2014
- Departed: LBO, LEBANON, MO
- Destination: LXN, LEXINGTON, NE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 263 total, 136 in this make and model, 231 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: KLXN, 1 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91990. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 812 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432446&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432447&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF

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.

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