Piper PA-28-140 N333NA

Summary

On 20 September 2010 at about 01:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N333NA was involved in an accident near Carthage, Texas, United States. One person was 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

20 September 2010 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Carthage, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.1761, -94.2986

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N333NA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Destin → Addison

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN10CA550

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel planning.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he departed with about 47 gallons of fuel onboard for a 551-nautical mile cross-country flight. About 3 hours and 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot became concerned with the rate of fuel consumption. The pilot stated that he elected to change his destination to obtain fuel and shortly thereafter the left fuel tank was empty. The pilot then switched back to the right fuel tank and looked for a place to conduct an emergency landing. During the approach for a forced landing the engine changed from idle to full power for 10 to 15 seconds before experiencing a complete loss of power. The airplane’s nose dropped and impacted the roof of an unoccupied barn near vertically. During recovery of the airplane, no fuel was found on site or in the airplane’s fuel tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.