Summary
On August 22, 1994, a Piper PA-25-235 (N7726Z) was involved in an incident near Washington, NC. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadequate inflight planning that resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable terrain, a plowed field, available for landing.
On August 22, 1994, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7726Z, dragged the right wing during a forced landing roll near Washington, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by Lee Flying Service under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the positioning flight. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Warren Field, Washington, North Carolina, about 1115.
The airplane was returning from a spray run for reloading and refueling. The pilot reported that while on a left base leg for landing on runway 23, the engine popped and quit.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ATL94LA163. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7726Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate inflight planning that resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable terrain, a plowed field, available for landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On August 22, 1994, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7726Z, dragged the right wing during a forced landing roll near Washington, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by Lee Flying Service under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the positioning flight. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Warren Field, Washington, North Carolina, about 1115.
The airplane was returning from a spray run for reloading and refueling. The pilot reported that while on a left base leg for landing on runway 23, the engine popped and quit. A forced landing was made in a tobacco field, about two miles from the airstrip. The landing was made across the furrows, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear. Substantial damage was done to the right wing when it dragged across the furrows.
An inspector from the Raleigh, North Carolina, Flight Standards District Office, Morrisville, North Carolina, reported that about two gallons of automotive fuel were drained from the airplane's fuel tank. Unusable fuel for the airplane is two gallons.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL94LA163