# NTSB NYC05CA077: Piper PA-28-180, N238PP, Portland, ME, May 6, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 6, 2005, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Portland, ME - Coordinates: 43.64611, -70.309165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6461&lon=-70.3092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland, Maine - NTSB case key (mKey): 61437 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61437/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA077 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper decision not to land and refuel resulting in 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, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight. The airplane had been airborne for about 3.5 hours, and as the flight neared the airport, the engine sputtered. The pilot immediately turned on the electric fuel pump and switched from the right fuel tank to the left. About 1/2-mile from the runway, the engine lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a marsh area, where the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that, "I am amazed at the low quantity of fuel I left in the left tank, the first tank used, when I initially switched tanks about half-way during the flight. There was probably a fraction of a gallon left! Obviously, if I had run the tank completely dry at altitude with only half of the trip complete, I would have realized refueling was necessary en-route." ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2005, at 1425 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N238PP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after a total loss of power while approaching the Portland International Jetport (PWM), Portland, Maine. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the flight originated at the Buffalo Airfield (9G0), Buffalo, New York. Prior to the 1100 departure, the fuel tanks were inspected, and the left wing tank was filled to the tab (18-gallons), and the right tank was filled to slightly above the tab. As the flight neared Portland, the engine sputtered. The pilot immediately turned on the electric fuel pump and switched from the right fuel tank to the left. About 1 to 2 miles from runway 18, the engine again began to sputter, and the pilot prepared for a forced landing. About 1/2-mile from the runway, the engine lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a marsh area, where the airplane came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident and did not observe any fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. The pilot additionally stated that, "I am amazed at the low quantity of fuel I left in the left tank, the first tank used, when I initially switched tanks about half-way during the flight. There was probably a fraction of a gallon left! Obviously, if I had run the tank completely dry at altitude with only half of the trip complete, I would have realized refueling was necessary en-route." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N238PP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N238PP-2007-03-07), registration cancelled 2007-03-07, S/N 28-5601, built 1970 (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 O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-5601 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Western New York Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 9G0, Buffalo, NY - Destination: PWM, Portland, ME - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 325 total, 325 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050506007789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050506007789A), May 6, 2005: Piper PA28180, Portland, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed buf on 05/06/05 destination pwm with one passenger. Vfr-far 91 flight. VFR flight plan filed with buf fss. Aircraft departed with… 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.