Piper PA-28-140 N2457Q

Summary

On 12 February 2001 at about 06:40 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N2457Q was involved in an accident near Owasso, Oklahoma, United States. 3 people were on board and 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

12 February 2001 at 06:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Owasso, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Not Applicable (NA)

Coordinates

36.2792, -95.8309

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N2457Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greenwood → Tulsa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

NTSB number

FTW01LA066

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's delay in switching the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation in cruise flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The cross-country flight departed in dark night instrument meteorological conditions, and experienced "strong headwinds" and carburetor icing. The flying pilot applied carburetor heat, reduced the engine RPM, and readjusted the mixture in an attempt to increase the endurance. When the flight was approximately 35 miles from its destination, the low voltage light illuminated and the ammeter read zero. The flight was diverted to an airport with a precision approach; however, the engine started to lose power. The non-flying pilot switched the fuel selector from the left fuel tank, which the flight crew assumed to be empty, to the right fuel tank, which contained an estimated 10 gallons of fuel; however, the engine power did not change. The pilots requested vectors to the nearest airport; however, when the airplane broke out of the clouds at 800 feet agl, they could not reach the airport. The flying pilot set up for a landing in a field, where the airplane impacted a fence post during the landing roll. Examination of the airplane at the accident site by an FAA inspector revealed that the left fuel tank contained residual fuel only and the right fuel tank was compromised by impact damage. The engine was test run following the accident, and no anomalies were noted with either the engine or the alternator.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.