Piper PA-28-161 N286FT
21 April 2001 · Winchester, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 21 April 2001 at about 03:23 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N286FT was involved in an accident near Winchester, Virginia, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 03:23
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Winchester, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Winchester Regional Airport (OKV)
- Coordinates
- 39.1704, -78.1695
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161
- Registration
- N286FT
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- New Haven → Winchester
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night
- NTSB number
- NYC01LA099
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot stated that he departed with full fuel tanks, and the fuel selector was initially positioned to the left tank. The pilot reported that he switched fuel tanks every 15 minutes. However, about 3 hours en route to his intended destination, the left fuel gauge displayed "E", and the right gauge displayed "1/4." The pilot decided to divert to a closer airport, but he could not activate the pilot-controlled runway lighting. Therefore, he continued to his original destination, and continued to select the left fuel tank. While on approach to the intended airport, the engine lost all power, and the pilot made a forced landing into trees. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The right wing had separated from the airplane, and the right fuel tank was compromised. The left fuel tank was still intact, and the inspector found approximately 1 to 2 pints of fuel remaining in the left tank. Additionally, the airport manager at the alternate airport reported that he tested the pilot-controlled lighting, and it functioned properly. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 84 hours, of which, about 55 were in the make and model accident airplane. He obtained his private pilot certificate about 2 months prior to the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov 2001 | Piper PA-28-180 | Mansfield, Ohio, United States | Monroe Aviation | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Aug 2001 | Piper PA-28-235 | Crestline, Kansas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Aug 2001 | Piper PA-28-161 | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2001 | Piper PA-28-181 | Sedona, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jun 2001 | Piper PA-28-181 | Lytle Creek, California, United States | Air Desert Pacific | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 Mar 2001 | Piper PA-28-RT201 | Manassas, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Nov 2001 | Cessna 172S | Leesburg, Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 2001 | Cessna U206E | New Market, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 30 Aug 2001 | Embraer ERJ-135ER | Richmond, Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 2001 | Andre MINI MAX 1500R | Chesapeake, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Sep 2001 | Boeing 757-200 | Arlington, Virginia, United States | American Airlines | Fatal | 64 |
| 29 Sep 2001 | Von Claparede Clemen PRECEPTOR-ULTRA | Dublin, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |