# NTSB SEA03LA065: Piper PA-38, N9705T, Trident, MT, April 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2003, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Trident, MT - Coordinates: 46.033332, -111.383331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0333&lon=-111.3833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56858 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56858/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA065 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion while in cruise flight due to inadequate preflight planning / preparation. A fence was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence post (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was on a cross country flight to use up the aircrafts fuel in order to perform a weight and balance. The pilot reported that he felt there was enough fuel on board for the trip. Approximately thirty minutes after departure the engine experienced a complete power loss. Following the loss of power, the pilot elected to land in a nearby field. After a "hard" landing and during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence post resulting in substantial damage. During the subsequent investigation both fuel tanks were found to be empty. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2003, about 1730 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-38 Tomahawk, N9705T, sustained substantial damage during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power near Trident, Montana. The airplane is registered to Aero Flight School of Belgrade, Montana, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The cross-country flight originated from Gallatin Field, Bozeman, MT (BZN), with a stop at Helena Regional, Helena, MT (HLN) and a planned return to BZN. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to use up the aircraft's fuel in order to perform a weight and balance. The pilot also stated that he felt he had enough fuel on board for the round trip. Approximately thirty minutes after leaving Helena Regional (HLN), the engine experienced a complete power loss. Following the loss of power, the pilot elected to land in a nearby field. After a "hard" landing, and during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence post resulting in substantial damage. Personnel who recovered the airplane reported that both fuel tanks were empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9705T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9705T-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 38-78A0161, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0161 - Airframe hours: 3056 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aero Flight School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2002, 26.2 hours before - Departed: HLN, Helena, MT - Destination: BZN, Bozeman, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 26, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,427 total, 3 in this make and model, 1,334 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KBZN, 17 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 20030420009189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030420009189A), Apr 20, 2003: Piper PA38112, Trident, MT, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot states he lost power after 30 minutes of flight on a flight from helena, Montana, to bozeman, Montana. The pilot also stated he set up approach to… 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.