# NTSB MKC88LA015: Piper PA-28-161, N8303Y, Bonne Terre, MO, November 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 5, 1987, 04:20 local (10:20 UTC)
- Place: Bonne Terre, MO
- Coordinates: 37.91912, -90.54058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9191&lon=-90.5406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34519/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA015

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - communications/information/atc - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG LOST PWR FM FUEL EXHAUSTION AS HE WAS CRUISING AT NGT ON A X-COUNTRY FLT AT 6500' MSL. HE DECLAREDAN EMERG WITH ST LOUIS APCH & REQD VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. THE CONTROLLER (CTLR) PROVIDED VECTORS TO THE BONNE TERRE ARPT WHICH WAS ABOUT 7 MI AWAY, BUT IT HAD NEITHER RWY LGTS NOR A ROTATING BEACON. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ARPT & ELECTED TO MAKE A NGT LNDG ON A ROADWAY. AS HE WAS LNDG, THERE WAS A LEFT CURVE IN THE ROADWAY. WHILE LNDG IN A LEFT BANK OVER THE CURVED ROAD, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GND & THE ACFT GND LOOPED & WAS DAMAGED. THE ACDNT OCCURRED ABOUT 1 MI FM THE UNLIGHTED ARPT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS A LIGHTED ARPT ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE FM WHERE THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT STATED THAT DRG A PREFLT, HE NOTED THE FUEL WAS AT/NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE SLEEVES (TABS). HE THOUGHT THE TANKS WERE INSIDE THE WING SKIN & THAT THE TABS REPRESENTED A FULL FUEL LVL, WHEN ACTUALLY THE FUEL TANKS WERE ABOUT 1-1/2 INCH BELOW THE FULL LVL. ALSO, HE SAID HE ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED HEADWINDS DRG THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8303Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8303Y-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N 288116093 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 288116095
- Airframe hours: 3531
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-DG3 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Professional Aeronautics Inc.
- Registered owner: Lee W Cash
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 1987, 96 hours before
- Departed: 08A, WETUMPKA, AL
- Destination: SUS, ST. LOUIS, MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 77K, Bonne Terre, runway 32, 2,800 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 152 total, 109 in this make and model, 115 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SUS, 45 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 19871105062229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871105062229A), Nov 5, 1987: Piper PA28161, Bonne Terre, MO, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel enroute at night. Crash landed. ATC failed to advise PIC of lighted airport gave unlighted field.

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.

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