# NTSB NYC97LA168: Piper PA-28-161, N47900, Blairsville, PA, August 21, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1997, 13:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Blairsville, PA - Coordinates: 40.429069, -79.259552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4291&lon=-79.2596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39423 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39423/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA168 ## Probable cause the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and improper in-flight planning/decision, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. ## 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 - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot said he visually verified that the airplane had full fuel tanks before departure. He estimated that would provide 6 hours of fuel endurance for the anticipated 4 hour and 50 minute flight. The pilot stated the engine began to miss as he approached his destination. He said he switched tanks several times and rocked the airplane using rudder to search for more fuel. The pilot attempted a forced landing at an airport prior to his destination, but the airplane crashed at the departure end of the landing runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of fuel. The Hobbs meter reflected 5.1 hours from the time of departure. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 1997, about 1335 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N47900, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the Jim Shearer South Airport, Blairsville, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Auburn, Maine at 0830, destined for Latrobe, Pennsylvania. An IFR plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot provided a statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. According to the Record of Conversation provided by the FAA Inspector, the pilot said he visually verified that the airplane had full fuel tanks prior to departure. The pilot estimated that would provide 6 hours of fuel endurance for the anticipated 4 hour and 50 minute flight. The pilot reported that when he was approaching his destination the engine started to "miss". He stated that he switched fuel tanks, and power was restored. At approximately 1330, the engine stopped producing power and the pilot turned for a forced landing at the Jim Shearer Airport. In a written statement, the pilot said he encountered "moderate to severe turbulence" during the flight and was forced to change altitude several times to find smoother air. When the engine began to miss, he switched fuel tanks back and forth searching for more fuel, achieving only temporary restorations of engine power. The pilot said: "I used rudder to rock the plane to see if there was more [fuel], it started again briefly but then nothing." The pilot stated he was on final approach for Runway 15, when he was forced to turn to avoid a helicopter flying the opposite direction. The airplane collided with terrain next to the runway. The Hobbs meter reflected 5.1 hours from the time of departure. Examination by the FAA Inspector revealed no evidence of fuel in the airplane. Examination of photographs provided by the FAA revealed the wreckage path was on a flat grass apron abeam and parallel to the landing runway. The initial impact crater was at the departure end of the landing runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47900](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47900-2000-03-30), registration cancelled 2000-03-30, S/N 28-7816154 (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: 28-7816154 - Airframe hours: 7112 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Twin Cities Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 29, 1997, 47 hours before - Departed: LEW, AUBURN, ME - Destination: LBE, LATROBE, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PA48, Jim Shearer South, runway 15, 2,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 708 total, 209 in this make and model, 590 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LBE, 12 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 19970821023229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970821023229A), Aug 21, 1997: Piper PA28161, Westmoreland Co, PA, No damage. Aircraft landed on private air strip. 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.