N626BP

On July 20, 1998, about 1000 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, N626BP, registered to and operated by Sabetha Flyers, Inc., of Sabetha, Kansas, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Fairview, Oklahoma. The private pilot and 3 passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 cross country flight. The business flight originated from Sabetha, Kansas, about 2 hours and forty minutes prior to the accident.

The pilot reported that while en route to the Clinton Municipal Airport, Clinton, Oklahoma, the airplane encountered a "brisk" headwind. Approximately 35 miles north of Fairview, Oklahoma, he "realized" that the aircraft was low on fuel. The pilot reported the fuel situation to the fixed base operator (FBO) at the Fairview Municipal Airport and continued toward the airport. The pilot further reported that the aircraft "ran out of fuel" about 1/2 mile north of the airport. A forced landing was initiated to a field. During the landing roll the airplane impacted a ditch and came to a stop upright.

The pilot also reported that prior to the flight the fuel level was "above the tank tabs, approximately 36 gallons."

Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed that the all of the landing gear assemblies were separated from the aircraft, both wings had structural damage, the engine was displaced downward, and the firewall was buckled.