Summary
On September 27, 2010, a Piper PA-28-140 (N5748U) was involved in an accident near Kenai, AK. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The student pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight.
The student pilot was on the last leg of a personal cross country flight with one passenger when he radioed to an FAA air traffic approach controller that he had a "lack of fuel" emergency and requested a heading to an airport. The pilot was given a direction and distance, but he decided he was not able to glide that far. The airplane subsequently sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing on marshy terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the accident flight. The pilot was asked by the NTSB investigator if he purchased fuel prior to departure on the last leg of his flight, and he indicated that he did not but should have. According to the pilot, his passenger held a private pilot certificate.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ANC10CA099. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5748U.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The student pilot was on the last leg of a personal cross country flight with one passenger when he radioed to an FAA air traffic approach controller that he had a "lack of fuel" emergency and requested a heading to an airport. The pilot was given a direction and distance, but he decided he was not able to glide that far. The airplane subsequently sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing on marshy terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the accident flight. The pilot was asked by the NTSB investigator if he purchased fuel prior to departure on the last leg of his flight, and he indicated that he did not but should have. According to the pilot, his passenger held a private pilot certificate.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC10CA099