- Date
- July 13, 1991, 23:55 local (Jul 14, 1991, 06:55 UTC)
- Place
- Ramona, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7893NPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 27289
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's improper preflight planning preparation and fuel consumption calculations resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, forced landing and in flight collision with a residence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After refueling the acft with a reduced fuel load the non-instrument rated plt tookoff for his destination. Upon arrival he added a reduced amount of fuel based on his original calculations. On his return night flt the following night he received a wx briefing, filed a VFR flt plan and departed for his home arpt. When approaching the destination arpt he determined the wx was below VMC and elected to land at an enroute arpt. During the descent the acft's engine sustained a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion. The plt stated that the airplane entered gnd fog prior to colliding with an unoccupied house and a propane tank. Examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks or on the ground adjacent to it.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7893N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Coastal Fliers, doing business as 0
- Registered owner
- Coastal Fliers
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- Q68 · Mariposa, CA
- Destination
- SEE · El Cajon, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 14 in this make and model · 450 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 110° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NFG, 27 nm away