# NTSB MIA97LA098: Piper PA-28-181, N2505Q, Nashville, TN, March 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1997, 13:16 local (19:16 UTC) - Place: Nashville, TN - Coordinates: 36.189613, -86.9505 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1896&lon=-86.9505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38229 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38229/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA098 ## Probable cause improper planning/decision by the pilot, by failing to ensure there was sufficient fuel to reach a suitable landing area, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, a forced landing, and collision with a tree. The faulty fuel indication was a related factor. ## 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 - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis After about 3 hours of flight, the pilot contemplated stopping for fuel, but elected to continue. The flight was about 7 nautical miles west of an airport, when the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a turn to land at the nearby airport, but was unable. While descending for a forced landing, the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane then descended and came to rest upright in a field. The pilot stated that at the time of the loss of engine power, the left fuel gauge indicated empty and the right fuel gauge indicated 1/8. Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed the fuel tanks were intact and empty. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 1997, about 1316 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N2505Q, registered to a private individual, experienced a total loss of engine power and was substantially damaged during a forced landing southwest of the John C. Tune Airport, Nashville, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1030 eastern standard time from the Asheboro Municipal Airport, Asheboro, North Carolina. The pilot stated that during cruise flight about 3 hours into the flight, he contemplated stopping at a nearby airport to refuel but elected to continue to his planned destination. The flight was about 7 nautical miles west of the John C. Tune airport when the engine experienced a loss of power. He then advised ATC of the loss of power and was vectored toward there. Unable to land at the airport the pilot executed a forced landing to a field but while descending, the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane then impacted the field and came to rest upright. The pilot further stated that at the time of the loss of engine power, the left fuel gauge indicated empty and the right fuel gauge indicated 1/8 capacity. Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no fuel remaining in the fuel tanks and no fuel leakage was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2505Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2505Q-1999-08-25), registration cancelled 1999-08-25, S/N 28-7790401 (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: 28-7790401 - Airframe hours: 2493 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger N. Harper - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 1996, 99 hours before - Departed: W44, ASHEBORO, NC - Destination: M02, DICKSON, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JWN, John C Tune ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 286 total, 179 in this make and model, 246 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 96 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 19970315005939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970315005939A), Mar 15, 1997: Piper PA28181, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. Lost power near destination. Wing hit a tree landing in field. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) aircraft ran out of fuel - aircraft burned more fuel than book… 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.