# NTSB IAD97LA071: Piper PA-23, N1044P, Washington, DC, May 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 2, 1997, 01:25 local (05:25 UTC) - Place: Washington, DC - Location: 38.9619° N, 77.4599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from WASHINGTON DULLES INTL (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9619&lon=-77.4599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28191/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=28191 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA071 ## Probable cause total loss of power on both engines due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations. ## 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 - 2 engines - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while en route, the right engine lost power. The pilot alerted air traffic control and he was vectored to Dulles International Airport . The pilot stated that he had the airport in sight when the left engine lost power. The pilot notified air traffic control that he was not going to make the runway, and the airplane impacted trees about 1000 feet short of runway 1. The pilot reported that in the course of his flight planning he misread the fuel quantity for the airplane as 108 gallons, which is the quantity for the auxiliary tank configuration. The pilot stated that he failed to catch his mistake until after the accident had occurred. ## Factual narrative On May 2, 1997, at about 0125 eastern daylight time, N1044P, a Piper PA-23, operated by the commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage after impacting trees about 1000 feet short of runway 010 while executing an emergency landing/approach to Washington Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC. The pilot stated that both engines failed. The pilot and one passenger his wife, sustained minor injuries. Visual Meteorological conditions existed and an Instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Lake in the Hills Airport, Lake in the Hills, Illinois, at about 2030 EDT on May 1, 1997. The pilot stated that while enroute to Washington's National Airport, the right engine quite. He contacted Air Traffic and they vectored him to Dulles International Airport. The pilot stated that he had Dulles insight when the left engine quit. The pilot notified Air Traffic that they were not going to make the runway and crashed into the tops of trees and came to rest nose down in the trees. The pilot stated the in the course of his flight planning he mistakenly read the fuel quantity for the aircraft as 108 gallons, which is the quantity for the auxiliary tank configuration. The pilot stated that he failed to catch his mistake until after the accident had occurred. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1044P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1044P-2001-06-07), registration cancelled 2001-06-07, S/N 23-46 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-46 - Airframe hours: 3843 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A3B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Belvidere Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 1997, 8 hours before - Departed: 3CK, LAKE HILLS, IL - Destination: DCA, DC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IAD, Dulles International, runway 1, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,363 total, 31 in this make and model, 589 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IAD, 1 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 19970502007359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970502007359A), May 2, 1997: Piper PA23, Chantilly, VA, Substantial damage. Aircraft reported engine problems and diverted airports, landed short of runway into trees. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 1998, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=28191. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 - Owner (item 2, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40079313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2%20-%20Owner-Master.PDF - Supplement S - Aircraft Occupant and Injured Ground Personnel (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40079314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S%20-%20Aircraft%20Occupant%20and%20Injured%20Ground%20Personnel-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 - Attachment (item 4, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2%20-%20Attachment-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Photo No. 1 Aircraft as found at accident site. (item 6, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40079317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20No.%201%20%20%20Aircraft%20as%20found%20at%20accident%20site.-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. --- 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.