# NTSB MIA98LA186: Piper PA-28-180, N8284W, Holly Springs, MS, June 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1998, 19:20 local (Jun 18, 1998, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Holly Springs, MS - Location: 34.7780° N, 89.4458° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Holly Springs, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7780&lon=-89.4458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38537/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision with the miscalculation of the fuel consumption. Operating with an unreliable fuel gage was a contributing factor. ## Analysis Approaching the refueling airport, the engine lost power and the pilot was forced to land in a cornfield about 7 miles short of the airport, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot, who was acting as right seat copilot for the outbound trip, stated he realized the left fuel quantity gauge was not reliable because the needle did not move during that outbound trip. For the homebound trip, he was using the right fuel gauge and timing, assuming about 10 gallons per hour consumption rate for his en route fuel management. Examination of the wreckage site by FAA personnel revealed 1/2 to 3/8 inch of fuel in the bottom of the left fuel tank, no fuel in the right tank or fuel lines, and no evidence of fuel spillage. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 1998, about 1920 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8284W, registered to a private individual, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in a farm field while descending for an approach to Holly Springs/Marshall County Airport, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The departure time from Tulsa's Riverside Airport was about 1540. The accident pilot stated that another pilot, himself, and an A&P mechanic had departed Pryor Field Regional Airport, Decatur, Alabama, earlier that day aboard N8284W, a rental airplane, to perform a prepurchase inspection on an airplane in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airplane was inspected and bought "on the spot", and a decision was made to fly both aircraft back to Alabama. The plan called for the original renter/pilot of N8284W on the out-bound trip to fly the newly purchased airplane home, and the accident pilot and mechanic would follow in N8284W. The two airplanes left Riverside Airport together, the new purchase on an IFR flight plan, and the rental following in a loose trail position. Their plan was to stay in radio contact, but not necessarily in visual contact, as the newly purchased airplane was a higher performance airplane. The pilot of N8284W elected to land at Holly Springs/Marshall County Airport to refuel, but experienced a loss of power in descent, and landed in a corn field about 7 miles short of the airport, sustaining substantial damage. The accident pilot, who was acting as right seat copilot for the outbound trip, stated he realized the left fuel quantity gauge was not reliable because the needle did not move during that outbound trip. For the homebound trip, he was using the right fuel gauge and timing, assuming about 10 gallons per hour consumption rate for his en route fuel management. Subsequent examination of the wreckage site by FAA personnel revealed no evidence of fuel spill. There was no fuel in the gascolator or fuel lines to the carburetor. The right wing tank contained no fuel and the left tank held about 3/8 to 1/2 inch of fuel. Fuel tank caps were in place, secure, and showed no signs of leakage. The left tank fuel quantity gauge indicated 25 gallons and the right gauge indicated empty. The type certification data sheet states unusable fuel for this airplane is about 2 gallons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8284W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8284W), registered now, S/N 28-2443, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2443 - Airframe hours: 3356 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward C. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1997, 87 hours before - Departed: RVS, TULSA, OK - Destination: DCU, DECATUR, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,034 total, 7 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 28 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 19980617014039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980617014039A), Jun 17, 1998: Piper PA28180, Holly Springs, MS, Substantial damage. (.4) Approaching the refuelling airport, the engine lost power and the pilot was forced to land in a cornfield about 7 miles short of the airport, sustaining… 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.