Piper PA-32-301 N8157R

Summary

On 29 December 1989 at about 01:45 local time, a Piper PA-32-301 registered N8157R was involved in an accident near Norfolk, Nebraska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 December 1989 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Norfolk, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

42.0304, -97.4105

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-301

Registration

N8157R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rockford → Norfolk

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MKC90LA040

Nobody was injured.

INPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS DELAY IN DIVERTING TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, AND DARK NIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT ENCTRD HEADWINDS, BUT HE THOUGHT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE FLT. HOWEVER, DURING A VOR APCH TO LAND AT NIGHT, HE ENCTRD LOW CLOUDS & WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT AT THE MISSED APCH POINT (MAP). HE EXECUTED A MISSED APCH & CONTACTED MINNEAPOLIS CENTER 'FOR ALTERNATE AIRPORT WITH ILS OR KNOWN VFR CONDITIONS DUE TO FUEL CONCERN.' VECTORS WERE PROVIDED, BUT HIS FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED BEFORE REACHING A SUITABLE AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A CATTLE FEED LOT. BEFORE STOPPING, THE ACFT HIT A FEED TROUGH & WAS DAMAGED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.