Piper PA-28-181 N55PJ

Summary

On 24 April 2000 at about 03:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N55PJ was involved in an accident near Ashland, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 April 2000 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ashland, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

42.1496, -122.5292

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N55PJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Banos → Medford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA00LA075

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Unsuitable terrain for a landing was a contributing factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during a descending turn, the aircraft's engine began missing. The pilot switched fuel tanks and the engine began functioning normally. Shortly after switching fuel tanks, the aircraft's engine quit and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a wooded area south of the aircraft's original destination. Local law enforcement personnel visually inspected the aircraft and reported that they observed approximately 1/2 gallon of blue aviation grade fuel in the aircraft's right fuel tank, and approximately 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of blue aviation grade fuel in the aircraft's left fuel tank. They also reported that the fuel tanks were not breached and there was no evidence of a preexisting fuel leak.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.