Piper PA 28-181 N7963C

Summary

On 3 August 2015 at about 01:10 local time, a Piper PA 28-181 registered N7963C, operated by Aspen Flying Club, was involved in an accident near American Falls, Idaho, United States. 3 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

3 August 2015 at 01:10

Classification

Accident

Location

American Falls, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

42.7056, -113.0944

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-181

Registration

N7963C

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Aspen Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lincoln → Idaho Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15LA237

Nobody was injured.

The low flight time pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a loss of engine power, and an off-airport landing in rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before departing for the cross-country flight, the fuel tanks were full and that the airplane could fly about 5 to 5.5 hours with full tanks. He planned to stop at an airport and refuel 4.5 hours after departure. However, 4 hours into the flight, the pilot determined that the groundspeed was less than planned and that the airplane would not make it to the intended fueling destination. At this time, the left fuel tank quantity gauge indicated that the tank had 5 gallons, and the right fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank had more than 5 gallons, which he estimated was sufficient fuel for 1 more hour of flight, so he decided to continue to an alternate airport even though he was currently over another airport. The pilot reported that, about 10 miles from the alternate airport, the right fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank was empty and that the left fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank had between 2 and 5 gallons. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached and that they were empty; only residual quantities of fuel were observed in the engine ancillary components. The engine examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.