# NTSB NYC97LA160: Piper PA-28R-200, N33341, Ashland, OH, August 4, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 1997, 01:00 local (05:00 UTC) - Place: Ashland, OH - Coordinates: 40.860988, -82.310554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8610&lon=-82.3106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39415/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA160 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot was on his fourth and final leg of a night cross-country. After the airport was in sight, the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing. On final approach the pilot determined that he was too high and fast to land on the runway. He then proceeded straight ahead under control, and came to rest in a corn field. The FAA reported that they drained 72 ounces of fuel from the wing tanks. The PA-28R-200 had a useable fuel capacity of 48 gallons, of which 2 gallons (256 ounces) were unusable. According to the hobbs meter, the pilot had flown a total of 4.9 hours and made 4 takeoffs. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 1997, about 0100 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N33341, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the Ashland Airport, Ashland, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which last departed from Wheeling, West Virginia, about 2345. No flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...The Ashland (3G4) beacon was in sight northwest of our position and 7 miles as we descended through 3,400' for the pattern of 2,000'. Just as I picked up the mike to turn on the runway lights, the engine stopped. I dropped the mike & switched from left to right tanks and turned on the fuel pump - the engine started and ran ( approx. 20 in mp) for about a minute and a half - then stopped again. During this activity, the aircraft descended to 2,200' MSL. I glanced out the left side of the windshield while clicking the mike for the lights. The runway was off to my left front - I chose to land on runway 18 and turned left to head for the approach end with gear and flaps extended - so as to loose the altitude. As I headed toward the runway in a slip I realized my speed was to high for a safe landing on the runway and decided to land under control straight ahead." Examination of the airplane by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), disclosed that 72 ounces of fuel was drained from both fuel tanks. The main landing gear had been torn from the wings, and both wings were buckled with wrinkles and popped rivets. The Piper PA-28R-200 had a useable fuel capacity of 48 gallons, with 2 gallons (256 ounces) of unusable fuel. According to reports from the FAA, the airplane had been filled with fuel on July 31, and did not fly again until the evening of August 1. The pilot departed Ashland, and flew to Wheeling, West Virginia, and then onto Lewisburg, West Virginia. While at Lewisburg, the airplane was not serviced. The pilot departed, about 2200, on August 3, for the return trip to Ashland, with an intermediate stop at Wheeling. The hobbs meter indicated that the airplane had been operated for 4.9 hours since the last refueling. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33341](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33341-2003-11-24), registration cancelled 2003-11-24, S/N 28R-7535135, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7535135 - Airframe hours: 5382 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Johnston Aviation Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 25, 1997, 32 hours before - Departed: I89, WHEELING, WV - Destination: 3G4 - Airport: 3G4, Ashland County, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,978 total, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MFD, 13 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 19970804020809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970804020809A), Aug 4, 1997: Piper PA28R200, Ashland, OH, Substantial damage. Lost power nearing destination. Landed in just south of airport. Made round robin flight. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) see narrative #NYC97LA160 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.