Yeager Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Racine, West Virginia 25165
Sunday, August 7, 1988 17:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON THE FIRST LEG OF A FERRY FLIGHT TO WEST GERMANY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM CHARLESTON WHEN THE PILOT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED ABOUT 5 & 11 GALS RESPECTIVELY REMAINING IN THE LEFT & RIGHT FUEL TANKS. HE PROCEEDED TO CHARLESTON, WHILE SWITCHING TANK POSITIONS, BEFORE FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED ABOUT 15 MILES FROM CHARLESTON. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD WITH THE RIGHT WING STRIKING A POWER LINE DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTRA FUEL TANK WITH A 28 GAL CAPACITY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRBORNE ABOUT EIGHT HOURS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City RACINE
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 25165
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport YEAGER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CRW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 982
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CRW
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 3000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1269
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 8 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37365
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:02PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4873T
NTSB Number BFO88LA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 7205212
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Apr 20 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 1240
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BUSTER, COLMAN, DOUGLAS,ESBAY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 906 E FRONT
Aircraft Owner City TYLER
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75702
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD DOELLEIN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address INDUSTRIES STR. 7
Operator City BURGEBRACH, WG
Operator State DC
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F54
Departure City ARLINGTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 940
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CRW
Destination City CHARLESTON
Destination State WV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 4750
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --