# NTSB WPR10LA370: Piper PA-28-180, N57PJ, Walla Walla, WA, July 28, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2010, 11:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Walla Walla, WA - Coordinates: 46.412223, -117.801391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4122&lon=-117.8014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA370 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76781/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76781 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA370 ## Probable cause The pilot's partial incapacitation during cruise flight and his subsequent inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was going to conduct a local scenic flight, and had taken a Dramamine prior to takeoff in anticipation of turbulence over the mountains. Prior to takeoff, the pilot reported that the fuel tanks were full and that he took off with the fuel selector on the right fuel tank. About 1/2 hour into the flight he reported to air traffic control that he was at 10,600 feet and had an anomaly with the airplane. The controller reported that over the next hour, the pilot could not determine the nature of the emergency. According to the controller, with each successive pilot transmission, the pilot's voice was sounding more uneven and his speech rate was slowly deteriorating. Thereafter, the pilot stopped responding to air traffic control. Radar track data of the airplane's flight revealed various circles and a zigzag-like pattern leading up to the area of the crash site. A witness who saw the airplane land stated that the airplane fully stalled just above a wheat field. The airplane struck the ground extremely hard and nosed over. When the witness arrived on scene the pilot was unconscious. The witness also noted that he did not notice any gas leaking from the wings nor did he smell gas. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel selector valve was on the right tank and the right fuel tank was empty. Very little damage was noted to the propeller. The pilot reported that he has no recollection of any of the events leading up to the accident after the initial position report. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2010, about 1125 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N57PJ, collided with terrain during an off airport forced landing 32 miles northeast of Walla Walla, Washington. The private pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damage by impact forces. The local personal flight departed Martin Field, College Place, Washington, about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he was going to conduct a local scenic flight and that he took a Dramamine prior to takeoff in anticipation of turbulence over the mountains. During preflight, he noted that both wing tanks were filled to the tabs, and he took off with the fuel selector on the right tank. He climbed to 10,000 feet, and proceeded on his flight. At 1030, the pilot reported an anomaly with the airplane to air traffic control and declared an emergency; however, he was unable to determine the problem. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report the pilot stated that his last memory of the flight was when he reported 10 miles east of the Walla Walla Airport at 10,000 feet. He has no recollection of any of the events between that position report and Saturday, August 1st. Air traffic controllers from Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW) reported that the pilot stated he was at 10,600 feet mean sea level (msl) inbound from approximately 10 miles north of Walla Walla, experiencing some type of difficulty. The pilot was advised to continue inbound to Walla Walla. The controller reported that during the next 60 minutes he attempted to determine the nature of the emergency. After numerous requests, the pilot stated that it may be an electrical problem. According to the approach controller, with each successive pilot transmission, the pilot's voice was sounding more unsure and his speech rate was slowly deteriorating and uneven. The controller advised the pilot to open vents and windows. Shortly after the last communication with the pilot was made, the controller received notification of the downed airplane. Radar track of the airplane revealed a normal ground track from southeast of Walla Walla to northeast Walla Walla. The airplane then proceeds to meander making circular patterns. The airplane departs the area and has a zigzag-like flight path to the area of the crash site 32 miles northeast of the Walla Walla airport. A witness who saw the airplane land stated that while landing the pilot fully stalled the airplane just above a wheat field. The airplane struck the ground extremely hard and nosed over. When the witness arrived on scene the pilot was unconscious. The witness also noted that he did not notice any gas leaking from the wings nor a smell of gas. An on-scene examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the fuel selector valve was on the righttank. The tank was not breached, and it did not contain any fluid/fuel. He observed that the wing spar and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The inspector further reported that there was a lack of a smell of fuel, and there was a lack of damage to the propeller blades. A letter dated September 7, 2010, was received by the FAA Northwest Mountain Regional Medical Office from an attorney representing the pilot. The letter stated that for personnel reasons the pilot was surrendering his medical certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57PJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57PJ-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 28-4430, built 1968 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4430 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Schmidt - Registered owner: Brent White - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: S95, College Place, WA - Destination: S95, College Place, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review May 4, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 20 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KALW, 32 nm away ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76781. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335145&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - ATC Controller Statements (item 2, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ATC%20Controller%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Radar Track Plots (item 3, .PDF, 894 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Radar%20Track%20Plots-Redacted.PDF - Summary of Radio Communications (item 4, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Radio%20Communications-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (item 5, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Airplane ground scar (item 6, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Airplane%20ground%20scar-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Comments (item 7, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Comments-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 8, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.