# NTSB MIA95LA046: Piper PA-28-181, N82895, Sarasota, FL, December 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 1994, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Sarasota, FL - Location: 27.3383° N, 82.5437° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sarasota, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3383&lon=-82.5437&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37713/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA046 ## Probable cause IN FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION DELAY BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND IN THAT HE FAILED TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT BEFORE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Analysis FUEL SERVICING WAS NOT OBTAINED BEFORE DEPARTURE. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT TO OBTAIN FUEL BUT WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. AFTER LANDING ON A ROAD, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A ROAD SIGN. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 1994, about 1720 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N82895, registered to Bay Air Flying Service, Inc., collided with a road sign during the landing roll following a forced landing near the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, Sarasota, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the flight to the Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the Key West International Airport, Key West, Florida, about 1530. The flight was a return flight to the Albert Whitted Airport from the Key West Airport. Fuel servicing was not obtained at the Key West Airport. The pilot stated that he did not activate his IFR flight plan and during the flight, he elected to divert to the Sarasota Airport. While on a right base to land, the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. He landed the airplane on a road and during the landing roll, the left wing collided with a road sign. The fuel tanks which were not damaged were drained. The left and right fuel tanks were found to contain .02 and .06 of a gallon of fuel respectively. Postaccident examination of the airplane by personnel who recovered the airplane revealed that both fuel caps were installed and there was no evidence of fuel siphoning. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82895](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82895-2000-07-14), registration cancelled 2000-07-14, S/N 28-8390006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8390006 - Airframe hours: 6797 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bay Air Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 29, 1994, 48 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 835 total, 91 in this make and model, 693 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 5 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 19941221044079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941221044079A), Dec 21, 1994: Piper PA28181, Sarasota-Brand, FL, Substantial damage. Fuel starvation turning base. Landed on a road. Struck a sign. Had flown non stop from key west. 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.