# NTSB SEA04LA084: Piper J4/E, N37982, Bigfork, MT, May 18, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 2004, 19:22 local (May 18, 2004, 01:22 UTC) - Place: Bigfork, MT - Coordinates: 48.066665, -113.983329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0667&lon=-113.9833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Helena FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59231 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59231/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA084 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion while in cruise flight as a result of inadequate preflight planning / preparation. Factors contributing to the accident were the short landing field and trees. ## 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) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that while returning to land at the departure airport, the engine began to "surge". The pilot continued towards the airport but was not able to maintain altitude or establish visual contact with the airport due to terrain. The pilot further reported that since he was unable to reach the airport, he turned approximately 180-degrees and initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll the pilot, in an attempt to avoid running into trees, applied the brakes "aggressively" which resulted in a nose over. In a telephone conversation and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported, "I am convinced the engine quit running because of fuel starvation." He related that the airplane had been "topped" three days earlier and had been flown two hours previous to the day of the accident. On the day of the accident he flew for about an hour. He further revealed that he was aware that the wing tank was empty because he had observed "bubbles" in the fuel sight gauge, which extends out the bottom of the wing tank. The pilot also reported that the airplane was equipped with one 18-gallon wing tank, and a 7-gallon header tank. Post accident examination of the aircraft by maintenance personnel from Discount Aircraft Salvage, found all engine controls to be functioning properly and approximately one tablespoon of fuel was drained from the fuel gascolator. After adding approximately one gallon of fuel to the header tank, the engine was started and ran smoothly with no malfunction or failures noted. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2004, at about 1922 mountain daylight time, a Piper J4/E, N37982, registered to and being operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced an un-commanded reduction of engine power. The pilot initiated a forced landing in a field about one-half of a mile north of Ferndale Airfield, Bigfork, Montana. Although the initial landing was uneventful the rollout resulted in a nose over. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Ferndale, Montana, about one hour prior to the accident. In a telephone conversation and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that while returning to land at the airport, the engine began to "surge". Carburetor heat was applied with no effect. The pilot continued towards the airport, but was not able to maintain altitude or establish visual contact with the airport due to terrain. The pilot further reported that since he was unable to reach the airport, he turned approximately 180-degrees and initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll the pilot, in an attempt to avoid running into trees, applied the brakes "aggressively" which resulted in a nose over. During a follow-up telephone conversation the pilot reported, "I am convinced the engine quit running because of fuel starvation." He related that the airplane had been "topped" three days earlier and had been flown two hours previous to the day of the accident. On the day of the accident he flew for about an hour. He further revealed that he was aware that the wing tank was empty because he had observed "bubbles" in the fuel sight gauge, which extends out the bottom of the wing tank. The pilot also reported that the airplane was equipped with one 18-gallon wing tank, and a 7-gallon header tank. Post accident examination of the aircraft by maintenance personnel from Discount Aircraft Salvage, found all engine controls to be functioning properly and approximately one tablespoon of fuel was drained from the fuel gascolator. After adding approximately one gallon of fuel to the header tank, the engine was started and ran smoothly with no malfunction or failures noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37982](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37982), registered now, S/N 4-1501, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J4/E - Registry model: [Piper J4E](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j4e) (registry code 7100610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4-1501 - Airframe hours: 2050 - Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David E Flatter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2003, 30 hours before - Departed: K53U, Bigfork, MT - Destination: K53U, Bigfork, MT - Airport: 53U, Ferndale Airfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 8, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 30,000 total, 65 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20040517035509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040517035509A), May 17, 2004: Piper J4E, Ferndale, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported a sputtering engine after a 45 minute pleasure flight. Engine continued to lose power. Pilot tried to make the Ferndale, Montana, airport… 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.