# NTSB SEA04LA104: Piper PA-38-112, N2579N, Jerome, ID, June 11, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 2004, 17:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Jerome, ID - Coordinates: 42.666667, -114.449996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6667&lon=-114.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59440/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power during descent for landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the soft terrain and the forced landing site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had made several flights on the day of the accident without refueling the airplane. On this the final flight, the pilot estimated there to be 1.5 hours of fuel remaining and departed with the intention of flying for 30 minutes. The pilot further reported that he "lost track of time" and, when he noticed the fuel was low, elected to return to the airport. Approximately three miles south of the airport, fuel pressure was lost and the pilot switched the fuel selector to the left tank. The engine ran for about 20 seconds then stopped. The pilot then executed a forced landing in a potato field. During the roll out, the nose wheel dug into the soft dirt resulting in a nose over. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2004, about 1720 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2579N, registered to the pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power, during a decent, near Jerome, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were uninjured and there was no fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from the Jerome County airport, Jerome, Idaho at 1600 hours. There was no report of ELT activation. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had made several flights on the day of the accident without refueling the airplane. On this the final flight, the pilot estimated there to be 1.5 hours of fuel remaining and departed with the intention of flying for 30 minutes. The pilot further reported that he "lost track of time" and, when he noticed the fuel was low, elected to return to the airport. Approximately three miles south of the airport, fuel pressure was lost and the pilot switched the fuel selector to the left tank. The engine ran for about 20 seconds then stopped. The pilot then executed a forced landing in a potato field. During the roll out, the nose wheel dug into the soft dirt resulting in a nose over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2579N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2579N-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 38-79A0928, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - 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: 38-79A0928 - Airframe hours: 1828 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert R. Moore - Registered owner: Robert R. Moore - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2004, 40 hours before - Departed: U73, JEROME, ID - Destination: Jerome, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 6, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 169 total, 118 in this make and model, 107 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 167 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## 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 20040611011819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040611011819A), Jun 11, 2004: Piper PA38112, Jerome, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed N2579N, a PA-38 in a soft potato field as a result of fuel exhaustion. According to the pilot, he attempted to keep the nose off of the… 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.