Piper PA-28-151 N43456

Summary

On 24 March 2003 at about 19:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N43456 was involved in an accident near South Haven, Michigan, United States. 2 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

24 March 2003 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

South Haven, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

South Haven Area Regional (0D1)

Coordinates

42.3508, -86.2561

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N43456

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Guthrie → South Haven

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA090

Nobody was injured.

The inadequate fuel consumption calculations by the pilot and the fuel exhaustion. The inadequate traffic pattern distance from the runway, which precluded his reaching the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot performed an off airport landing from an airport traffic pattern and collided with trees after a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he could not reach the runway from the base leg because of a strong headwind. The pilot diverted to the airport after being concerned that he would run out of fuel while en route to his intended destination. The flight departed five hours before the accident. The pilot reported that he should have had enough fuel based upon his calculations to reach his intended destination. He based his calculations on a leaning technique which employed a loss of rpm followed by an increase in the mixture control of about 3/4 of an inch and fuel gauge indications. Based upon Federal Aviation Administration guidance information, the airplane had a "safe flight time" of 4 hours and 30 minutes. In addition, fuel gauges are only calibrated to accurately indicate an empty tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.