LAX00LA075

During preflight planning, the pilot realized he would need an en route fuel stop due to forecast headwinds. About 45 minutes into the flight, his passenger became agitated and he diverted to an alternate airport in his flight path, which was about 25 miles from his planned fuel stop, to take care of the passenger's concerns. He found that there were no fuel services available at this airport, and in recalculating his flight plan, estimated that he had enough fuel to continue the flight to the destination airport without stopping to refuel at his planned en route fuel stop. He stated that after takeoff from the alternate airport it was becoming dark and he was a stressed out due to mountainous terrain on his flight path, as well as his passenger's discomfort. Approximately 5 miles southeast of the accident airport the pilot informed air traffic control that he was low on fuel. He was provided vectors to the accident airport, which did not have a lighted field. After descending to a lower altitude to locate the airport the engine quit. He switched tanks, and the engine restarted. Approximately 15 seconds later the engine quit again. He saw two cars on a road and landed in-between them. The right wing collided with a road sign during the landing rollout. The fuel tanks were inspected and found to contain residual fuel, with no evidence of leakage.

On January 14, 2000, at 2003 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2572N, collided with ground obstructions during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near the Kern Valley Airport, Kernville, California. The airplane, rented by the pilot and operated by Mazzie's Flight Service, d.b.a. Golden Eagle Enterprises, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the night personal cross-country flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Las Vegas airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1600, and was scheduled to terminate at the Fresno, California, airport.

In an interview with a Safety Board investigator, the pilot stated that the flight from Fresno to Las Vegas a few days before the accident was uneventful. He stated that the flight had taken approximately 2 hours with no refueling stops made. The airplane was refueled in Las Vegas on the day of the accident. During his preflight weather briefing the pilot noted that the forecasted head winds were 18-20 knots, and the calculated flight time based on those winds was estimated at 4 hours. The pilot noted that he would not have enough fuel for a nonstop flight and chose Inyokern, California, for a refueling stop. His flight planning included fuel burn, which he estimated to be 6 gallons an hour. After takeoff he noted that his ground speed was 60 mph. The pilot indicated that he did not file a flight plan, but requested flight following.

The pilot reported that approximately 45 minutes into the flight his passenger became agitated and wanted to land. He diverted to Trona, California, approximately 25 nmi northeast of Inyokern, to take care of his passenger. The pilot stated that there were no fuel services available at Trona. He tookoff and continued the flight to Fresno, without stopping at Inyokern to refuel. He stated that it was now dark outside and he was stressed due to mountainous terrain on his flight path, and his passenger's discomfort during the flight.

Prior to reaching Kernville, the pilot reported to the air traffic control facility conducting his flight following that he was low on fuel and could they provide vectors to the nearest airport. The controller informed him that Kern Valley Airport was the closest to his current position, but that they did not have a lighted field. The pilot contacted the airport via Unicom, and the person monitoring Unicom stated that he would place his car at the approach end of the runway and turn his lights on so that the pilot could find the airport.

The pilot descended to 1,000 feet above ground level (agl) to locate the airport. He reported that the engine quit, so he switched to the other tank. Approximately 15 seconds later, the engine quit again. The pilot noted two cars on a road, and made the forced landing in-between them. On the landing rollout the wing of the airplane struck a road sign.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. There were no anomalies noted with the fuel system or fuel tanks, and the system contained only residual fuel. A fuel receipt was obtained from the local refueling company indicating that 18.6 gallons of fuel had been placed onboard the airplane at Las Vegas on the day of the accident.