Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The private pilot reported that he departed on a 76-mile cross-country flight with about 5 gallons of fuel in the left main fuel tank, about 16 gallons in the right main tank, and 6 gallons in the right wingtip fuel tank. About 31 miles from the destination, with the left main fuel tank selected, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot conducted a forced landing to a two-lane highway. During the landing, the airplane collided with the rear of a truck, separating the right wing. The airplane came to rest inverted in a ditch about 250 ft from the initial impact point. The pilot reported that the entire flight was conducted on the left main fuel tank. Given the expected fuel consumption and distance traveled before the loss of power, the accident is consistent with the pilot's fuel mismanagement, which resulted in the engine being starved of available fuel.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 4, 2015, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-235 airplane, N8703W, was substantially damaged during an off-airport forced landing at Huntington, Indiana. The pilot and a person on the ground sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provision of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed. The airplane departed from Anderson Municipal Airport (AID), Anderson, Indiana, and was destined for De Kalb County Airport (GWB), Auburn, Indiana, located about 76 miles away. The pilot reported that during cruise flight, about 2,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine had a sudden and complete loss of engine power. The pilot elected to conduct a forced landing to a two-lane paved highway. During the landing the airplane impacted the rear of a pickup truck that was stopped at a traffic signal. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airplane and the complete separation of the right wing. The airplane came to rest inverted in a ditch about 250 ft from the initial impact point. During a conversation with the NTSB investigator in Charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he had about 5 gallons of fuel in the left main fuel tank, about 16 gallons in the right main tank, and 6 gallons in the right tip fuel tank. He added that the fuel selector was on the left main fuel tank. A review of the PA28's Pilot Owners Handbook, revealed that at 75 % power, fuel consumption is 14 gallons/hour. The handbook also noted that cruise speed was 146 mph (126.9 kts) at sea level and 156 mph (135.6 kts) at 7,000 ft.