CEN09FA377

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel planning and failure to refuel.

Prior to the flight, the airplane was refueled with 12 gallons of fuel; however, the total fuel on board at the time of departure could not be determined. During the 3-hour cross-country flight, the airplane overflew several airports that had fuel services available. Witnesses, located near the accident site, observed the airplane flying low and heard the engine lose power, restart, and lose power again. The pilot executed a forced landing to a corn field, the airplane impacted a ditch, and was substantially damaged. No evidence of usable fuel was found in the airplane fuel tanks, or at the accident site. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 23, 2009, at 1057 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 single-engine airplane, N7795N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Sanborn, Iowa. The private pilot, a pilot-rated passenger, and another passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport (61C), Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, approximately 0807 and was en route to Winner, South Dakota. Family members reported the pilot and passengers were flying to South Dakota for a hunting trip. Prior to departure, the airplane was refueled by the pilot and passengers with 12 gallons of fuel at a self-serve fuel pump at 61C. The total amount of fuel on board the airplane at the time of departure could not be determined. A witness, who overheard portions of the pilot and passengers' conversations while they were removing the airplane from the hangar, stated that one person in the group mentioned that filling the tanks to the tabs would not be enough fuel to make it to their destination. The witness overheard the group say they planned for a fuel stop along the route of flight. A family member of one passenger stated that in the days preceding the accident flight, the passenger mentioned that they could not depart with full fuel tanks due to the high temperatures and expected weight of the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a portable Garmin GPSMAP 295 global positioning system (GPS) receiver. A specialist with the NTSB's Vehicle Recorder Division extracted the data stored in the receiver. A review of the data indicated the average GPS altitude during the first 6 minutes and 45 seconds of recorded track log data was 801 feet mean sea level (msl). Field elevation for 61C was reported as 801 feet (surveyed). The GPS data indicated the airplane departed from 61C approximately 0807. A Google Earth overlay of the GPS track log data indicated that the airplane departed 61C to the south and turned right to a westerly heading. From 0822 to 0947, the airplane continued in a westerly heading at altitudes between 4,700 and 4,900 feet msl. At 0947, the airplane entered a gradual climb to an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet msl, and at 1013, the airplane began a gradual descent to an altitude of approximately 2,400 feet msl. From 1022 to 1055, the airplane continued in a westerly heading at altitudes between 2,400 and 2,900 feet msl. For the last 2 minutes of recorded track log data, the airplane began a descent from 2,500 feet, and the groundspeed decreased. The last 3 track log data points indicated the airplane began a left turn to the south. The last data point was recorded at 1057:40; at an altitude of 1,497 feet msl. According to several witnesses located near the accident site, the airplane was observed to be flying at a low altitude. Two witnesses, located northeast of the accident site, observed the airplane at a low altitude and the engine was "coughing, sputtering, and missing." The engine quit shortly thereafter, restarted, and quit again. The witnesses lost sight of the airplane behind trees. Approximately 5 minutes later, the witnesses heard sirens and emergency vehicles. Witnesses and rescue personnel who responded to the accident reported no smell or evidence of fuel at the accident site. Fixed-based operator personnel, located at the Sheldon Municipal Airport (SHL) which was approximately 3 miles west of the accident site, were monitoring the airport’s UNICOM frequency at the time of the accident. The personnel stated that the accident airplane had not transmitted any communications over the SHL UNICOM frequency. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 64 and seated in the left seat, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot was issued a third-class medical certificate on July 18, 2007. A review of the pilot’s logbook revealed he had accumulated approximately 722 total flight hours. The pilot completed a flight review on November 1, 2007, in a Piper PA-28-151 airplane. The most recent entry in the pilot’s logbook was dated April 28, 2009. The pilot-rated passenger, age 65 and seated in the right seat, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on September 20, 2005, which was expired at the time of the accident. The pilot-rated passenger was a co-owner of the accident airplane. During a telephone conversation between the NTSB investigator-in-charge and the other co-owner of the airplane, the co-owner reported that he assumed the pilot in the left seat would have been the pilot of the accident flight, and not the pilot-rated passenger. The pilot had flown the accident airplane in the past and owned a Piper PA-28-151 airplane. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The 1968-model Piper PA-28-180, serial number 28-5244, was a single-engine, low-wing, fixed tri-cycle landing gear, semi-monocoque design airplane. The airplane was powered by a normally aspirated, direct drive, air-cooled, horizontally opposed, carburetor equipped, four-cylinder Lycoming O-360-A4A (serial number L-13561-36A), rated at 180 horsepower, and equipped with a two-blade fixed pitch propeller. The airplane was configured to carry a maximum of four occupants. The airplane was issued a standard airworthiness certificated on December 4, 1968, and was certificated for normal or utility category operations. The airplane was registered to the owners on May 2, 2002. A review of the airframe logbook revealed the most recent annual inspection was completed on April 16, 2009, at a total time of 4,729 hours. The engine underwent its most recent 100-hour inspection on April 16, 2009, at a total time of 40 hours since major overhaul. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated a total time of 4,738 hours. The airplane’s fuel system consisted of two 25-gallon tanks, with a total of 48 gallons of usable fuel. A placard on the wing adjacent to each fuel cap noted, “Cap to Bottom of Filler Neck Indicator 18 gal.” Information extracted from the Piper Owner’s Handbook indicated that at a maximum gross weight of 2,400 pounds, the airplane would have a fuel flow of 10 gallons per hour (gph) at 75 percent power setting, and 8.7 gph at 65 percent power setting. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The weather at the time as reported by witnesses was clear skies and the winds were light and variable. At 1055, the Sheldon Municipal Airport automated weather observing system (AWOS), recorded the wind from 260 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 32 degrees Celsius, dew point 26 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.93 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane touched down in a corn field with the corn stalks measuring 2 to 3 feet in height. The airplane traveled through the corn field for approximately 100 feet and impacted a ditch; 2 feet from the top of a gravel road. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted at a measured GPS elevation of 1,482 feet. The airplane wreckage was distributed along a measured magnetic heading of 180 degrees from the initial touchdown location in the corn field to the resting point. Three paths, consistent with the three landing gears, were cut through the corn and ended at the edge of the corn field, adjacent to the ditch. No evidence of corn cut by a propeller was noted. The left wing remained partially attached to the fuselage and was displaced aft. The outboard 3 feet of the wing was crushed and bent aft. The aileron and flap remained attached to the wing. The fuel cap was secured and approximately 1 cup of fuel was dra