N8600LPIPER PA-25-2352009-06-27 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
Minor

PIPER PA-25-235S/N: 25-5023

Summary

On June 27, 2009, a Piper PA-25-235 (N8600L) was involved in an accident near Preston, ID. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion that resulted from the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.

The pilot reported that he was returning to the airport after an aerial application. While turning from base to final, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot force-landed the airplane in a field; however, the field had been flood irrigated and the airplane nosed-over. The pilot reported that usually he fuels the airplane to the same mark and then writes down the tachometer time. He felt that he may not have fueled to the mark and/or he spent more time on the field than he anticipated. There were no mechanical anomalies reported.

This accident is documented in NTSB report WPR09CA315. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8600L.

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, June 27, 2009
NTSB Number
WPR09CA315
Location
Preston, ID
Event ID
20090628X13006
Coordinates
42.085277, -111.930274
Nearest Airport
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion that resulted from the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
25-5023
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1969
Model / ICAO
PA-25-235PA25
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
ZENITH TRADE INC
Address
4699 N FEDERAL HWY STE 109E
Status
Deregistered
City
POMPANO BEACH
State / Zip Code
FL 33064-6510
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that he was returning to the airport after an aerial application. While turning from base to final, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot force-landed the airplane in a field; however, the field had been flood irrigated and the airplane nosed-over. The pilot reported that usually he fuels the airplane to the same mark and then writes down the tachometer time. He felt that he may not have fueled to the mark and/or he spent more time on the field than he anticipated. There were no mechanical anomalies reported.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09CA315