Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hallam, Nebraska 68368
Saturday, January 13, 1996 19:47 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane departed Dallas, Texas at 1544 cst with a gross weight of 2,382.3 pounds. The maximum certified gross weight was 2,081 pounds. About 4 hours and 15 minutes after takeoff, the pilot transmitted on a UNICOM frequency that the airplane was low on fuel. A short time later, he reported that the airplane was out of fuel and he intended to perform an off-airport landing. During a night forced landing, the airplane contacted powerlines, then impacted the terrain. A total of 30 ounces of fuel was drained from the airplane fuel system after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Darkness was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/13/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1947
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HALLAM
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68368
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2010 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID BIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 1323
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1463
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 411
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 14 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N98254
NTSB Number CHI96FA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-25966
Certified Max Gross Weight 2081
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 4855
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name POLLOCK, JAMES W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 204
Aircraft Owner City WAHOO
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68066
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DAL
Departure City DALLAS
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AHQ
Destination City WAHOO
Destination State NE
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --