WPR19LA027

Prior to departure, the airplane was fueled with 50 gallons of fuel, which the pilot estimated would last for 5 hours of flight time. He planned for a 3 hour and 40-minute flight. When the airplane was about 55 miles from the destination airport, the engine began to sputter. According to the pilot, the right fuel tank was selected, so he switched to the left fuel tank position. The engine ran without any further issues until the left fuel tank ran out of fuel. The pilot performed a forced landing to a dirt landing strip without incident. After landing, the pilot examined the airplane and determined the right fuel tank was empty and the left tank had over 15 gallons of fuel. He started the engine and decided to continue the flight to Presidio, Texas. As the airplane reached about 5,500 ft after takeoff, the engine began to lose partial power. When the airplane was about 6 miles from the destination airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to land in a dry riverbed; however, the airplane stalled about 20 ft above the ground and the landing gear struck terrain damaging the outboard section of the right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were intact; the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank contained approximately 15 gallons of fuel. Because the student pilot’s recollection of the available fuel after the first forced landing differs from what was found after the accident, the investigation could not determine the reason for the loss of engine power.

On November 14, 2018, at 1542 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N1715J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Presidio, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that prior to departure, the airplane was fueled with 50 gallons of fuel, which he estimated would last for 5 hours of flight time. He planned for a 3 hour and 40-minute flight from Arlington, Texas, to Presidio, Texas. The pilot stated he intended to have the right fuel tank selected for the first hour of the flight, then switch to the left fuel tank for 2 hours, and then switch back to the right fuel tank for the remainder of the flight. As the airplane overflew Alpine, Texas, the engine began to sputter. According to the pilot, the right fuel tank was selected, so he switched to the left fuel tank position. The engine ran without any further issues until he “ran the left fuel tank dry.” The pilot observed a ranch with a dirt landing strip, and he performed a forced landing without incident. After landing, the pilot examined the airplane and determined the right fuel tank was empty and the left tank had over 15 gallons of fuel. He started the engine and decided to continue the flight to Presidio, Texas. As the airplane reached about 5,500 ft after takeoff, the engine began to surge and [was] “missing.” When the airplane was about 6 miles from Presidio Lely International Airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to land in a dry riverbed; however, the airplane stalled about 20 ft above the ground and the landing gear struck terrain damaging the outboard section of the right wing. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the fuel tanks were intact at the accident site; the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank contained approximately 15 gallons of fuel. No other preimpact anomalies were noted by the inspector.