# NTSB MKC89LA005: Piper PA-28-151, N5378F, Cedar Rapids, IA, October 15, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1988, 10:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Cedar Rapids, IA
- Coordinates: 41.970554, -91.660156 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9706&lon=-91.6602&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 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34709/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA005

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE CONDUCTING A PART 135 AIR TAXI OPERATION, THE PILOT SAID HIS ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH ABOUT 7 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION APT. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE INITIATED AND A CALL TO THE CONTROL TOWER DECLARING AN EMERGENCY WAS MADE. UNABLE TO REACH THE APT, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A LARGER, MORE POWERFUL ENGINE WITH SUBSEQUENT INCREASED FUEL CONSUMPTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5378F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5378F-1989-04-04), registration cancelled 1989-04-04, S/N 287715114 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7715114
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Tibben Flight Lines Inc
- Registered owner: Tibben Flight Lines, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 15, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: MKC, KANSAS CITY, MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CID, Cedar Rapids, runway 13, 5,450 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,113 total, 89 in this make and model, 865 as pilot in command, 278 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CID, 1 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 19881015048889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881015048889A), Oct 15, 1988: Piper PA28151, Cedar Rapids, IA, Substantial damage. Engine quit, approaching airport. Hit concrete pylons hidden in grass on landing. Pilot blamed leaky fuel strainer.

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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