- Date
- November 14, 2006, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Caldwell, ID
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2390TPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20061114024159A
- Case key
- 64863
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning by failing to refuel while en route which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power while on approach to the airport. Rough/uneven terrain was a factor.
Analysis
The pilot reported the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion while on short final to the destination airport. The accident occurred during the final leg of a 335 nautical mile VFR cross-country flight. The pilot stated that after losing power he initiated a forced landing to an open field approximately 1/4 mile short of the runway. The airplane encountered rough/uneven terrain during the landing sequence and sustained substantial damage to the wing assembly. The accident flight was the aircraft's second flight after being topped off with fuel. The first flight commenced on November 13, however, due to deteriorating weather conditions the pilot returned to the departure airport approximately 45 minutes after departure. The aircraft was not refueled prior to the accident flight. The pilot reported the flight took longer than expected due to higher than forecasted headwinds.
Factual narrative
On November 14, 2006, at 1300 mountain standard time (MST), a Piper PA-28-140, N2390T, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing during approach to Caldwell Industrial Airport, (KEUL) Caldwell, Idaho. The airplane was operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight originated about 0855 MST from Tonopah, Nevada, (KTPH), and was en route (approximately 335 nautical miles) to Caldwell, Idaho.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on November 14, the pilot reported that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion while on short final to the flight planned destination airport. The pilot stated that after losing power he initiated a forced landing to an open field approximately 1/4 mile short of runway 30. The airplane encountered rough/uneven terrain during the landing sequence and sustained substantial damage to the wing assembly.
This was the aircraft's second flight after being topped off with fuel. The first flight commenced on November 13, however, due to deteriorating weather conditions the pilot returned to Tonopah approximately 45 minutes after departure. The aircraft was not refueled prior to the second (accident) flight.
The pilot reported the flight took longer than expected due to higher than forecasted headwinds.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2390T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7225068
- Airframe hours
- 5,218
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Albert Phillips
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2006
- Departed
- TPH · Tonopah, NV
- Destination
- EUL · Caldwell, ID
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- EUL · Caldwell
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2006
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 800 total · 369 in this make and model · 765 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
- Observed at
- KEUL, 1 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.
Other investigations on N2390T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.