# NTSB NYC08CA002: Piper PA-28-180, N7751N, Fairview, TN, October 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 3, 2007, 12:48 local (17:48 UTC) - Place: Fairview, TN - Coordinates: 36.034721, -87.143333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0347&lon=-87.1433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA002 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to 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, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot of the Piper PA-28-180 had been flying for about 3 hours 35 minutes when the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion, and he performed a forced landing to trees. The airplane impacted 50-foot tall trees prior to striking the ground. The pilot reported that he had topped-off the airplane's fuel tanks, which had a total capacity of 44 gallons of usable fuel prior to the flight. He leaned the fuel mixture during the flight, and expected the airplane to have an endurance of 4.6 hours. Examination of the wreckage and accident site did not reveal any evidence that either fuel tank contained an appreciable amount of fuel at impact. The pilot reported 94 hours of total flight experience; which included about 13 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the Piper PA-28-180 had been flying for about 3 hours 35 minutes when the engine began to lose power. The engine regained power momentarily, after the pilot switched fuel tanks; however, it subsequently lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to trees. The airplane impacted 50-foot tall trees prior to striking the ground. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that both fuel tanks were damaged and neither fuel tank contained fuel. In addition, there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The pilot reported that he had topped-off the airplane's fuel tanks, which had a total capacity of 44 gallons of usable fuel prior to the flight. He leaned the fuel mixture during the flight, and expected the airplane to have an endurance of 4.6 hours. The pilot reported 94 hours of total flight experience; which included about 13 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7751N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7751N-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N 28-5196, built 1968 (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: 28-5196 - Airframe hours: 3350 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stephen R. Pomeroy - Registered owner: Robert J. Krause - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2007 - Departed: DTN, Shreveport, LA - Destination: M33, Gallatin, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: M33, Gallatin ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 94 total, 13 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 25 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 20071003828119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071003828119A), Oct 3, 2007: Piper PA28180, Fairview, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was enroute from shreveport, la (shv), to gallatin, TN (M33). Aircraft's engine experienced surging several times due to fuel exhausting.… 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.