Piper PA 24-250 N5897P

Summary

On 28 November 2014 at about 16:11 local time, a Piper PA 24-250 registered N5897P was involved in an accident near Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 November 2014 at 16:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Andrews University Airpark (C20)

Coordinates

41.9511, -86.3681

Aircraft

Piper PA 24-250

Registration

N5897P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1959

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Richmond → Berrien Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA064

4 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he calculated that the airplane had sufficient fuel on board for about 90 minutes of flight; he estimated that the flight to his intended destination would take about 70 minutes. The flight encountered weather as it approached its destination, so the pilot decided to circle the area until the weather cleared. Once the weather cleared, he lined up the airplane on final approach for the runway. The pilot stated that, about 4 miles from the runway, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power because the airplane ran out of fuel. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.