# NTSB NYC99LA031: Piper PA-28-180, N7177W, Reno, OH, November 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 25, 1998, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Reno, OH - Coordinates: 39.459396, -81.270301 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4594&lon=-81.2703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45393/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot's disregard of the information provided by the fuel gauges, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors in the accident included leaks in the fuel system, and the pilot's reliance on using timing alone to determine fuel consumption. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel system,line fitting - leak (contributing factor) - information - disregarded, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - fuel consumption calculations - not verified, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency ## Analysis The airplane departed on a cross country flight with full fuel tanks. The pilot flight-planned for 4 hours of flight, but after 2 1/2 hours noticed the 'fuel gauges looked unusually low.' He diverted to an airport, and 1/2 hour later, about 2 nautical miles from that airport, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. Post flight inspection revealed evidence of slight fuel leakage at the carburetor fuel inlet fitting, a pinhole leak in the fuel primer line, and a very slight fuel stain emanating from the left wing fuel cap. There was no evidence of faulty fuel gauges at low fuel levels. A review of the local sectional aeronautical chart revealed that the pilot selected an airport which was ahead, and along the intended route. However, there were numerous other airports which were closer, and could have been selected, but were not along the intended route. ## Factual narrative On November 25, 1998, about 1200 Eastern Standard Time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7177W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Reno, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were uninjured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight between Sussex Airport (FWN), Sussex, New Jersey, and Wood County Airport (PKB), Parkersburg, West Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a statement, the pilot wrote that he originally intended to fly to the St. Louis area, "with a fuel stop at the nearest airport about 4 hours en route." Approximately 2 1/2 hours into the flight, about 20 nautical miles east, northeast of Parkersburg, the pilot noticed the "fuel gauges looked unusually low." He then decided to land at Parkersburg to refuel, and investigate the cause of the high fuel consumption. About 1/2 hour later, approximately 2 nautical miles east northeast of Parkersburg, the airplane ran out of fuel, and the pilot performed the forced landing to a field. In another statement, the pilot noted that the airplane's groundspeed, as calculated by Global Positioning System (GPS), was 100 knots. At that groundspeed, and 1/2 hour prior to the forced landing, the airplane would have been about 50 nautical miles east northeast of Parkersburg. A review of the local sectional aeronautical chart revealed that the pilot selected an airport which was ahead, and along the intended route. However, there were numerous other airports which were closer, and could have been selected, but were not along the intended route. According to the pilot's calculations, during the 3 hours aloft, the airplane should have burned about 27 gallons of the 48 gallons of usable fuel on board. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, examination of the airplane revealed a "very slight" fuel stain from the left wing fuel cap, which went aft about 2 feet. Fuel was added to the left wing tank, and the boost pump was turned on. With that, a "slight leak seep" was noted at the carburetor filter fitting. There was no leak in the vicinity of the fuel strainer. When the fuel primer was pumped, a pinhole leak was found in the fuel primer line, 3 inches upstream from the carburetor. There was no evidence of faulty fuel gauges at lower fuel tank levels, although the pilot had reported to the FAA Inspector that the left gauge read 3/4 full when the tank was actually full. The Inspector confirmed that both gauges indicated properly when there was no fuel in the tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7177W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7177W-2001-10-03), registration cancelled 2001-10-03, S/N 28-984 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-984 - Airframe hours: 3028 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph R. Oshinski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1998, 14 hours before - Departed: FWN, SUSSEX, NJ - Destination: PKB, PARKERSBURG, WV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 493 total, 84 in this make and model, 420 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CKB, 50 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 19981125032579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981125032579A), Nov 25, 1998: Piper PA28180, Reno, OH, Substantial damage. Acft ran out of fuel and crashed. (.19) on November 25, 1998, about 1230 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7177W, was substantially damaged during a… ## Other investigations on N7177W (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC86LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA050), Dec 15, 1985: Piper PA-28-180 (N7177W), Mt. Joy, PA, substantial damage 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.