Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wayne, Oklahoma 73095
Friday, September 19, 2003 16:16 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 4,000-hour pilot reported that he climbed to approximately 2,500 feet, and the engine lost power. He then selected an open field and maneuvered to clear power lines. After landing in the field, the airplane impacted a pipe fence which bordered the field adjacent a highway. Subsequently, the airplane flipped over and came to rest on the west bound lane of the highway. According to entries in the flight log, the airplane was fueled to capacity (38 gallons) at 21.3 Hobbs meter time. Another 5 gallons of fuel was added at 24.5 Hobbs, and at the time of the accident the Hobbs read 26.0. According to the Lycoming Model O-320 engine Operator's Manual, at 2,450 RPM the fuel burn is 10.0 gph. Based on recorded Hobbs times, the airplane was operated about 4.7 hours from the re-fuelings to the accident. At a 10gph burn, the airplane would have used about 47 gallons of fuel in 4.7 hours of operating time. Flight log entries showed 38 gal at 21.3 Hobbs and 5 gal at 24.5 Hobbs, which equals 42 gals.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/19/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1616
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Wayne
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73095
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1710 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PVJ
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 15156
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 22 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Oklahoma City FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3336M
NTSB Number FTW03LA230
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12-2194
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 15 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25.8
Airframe Hours 2775.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert Finley
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2846 Goldsby Drive
Aircraft Owner City Goldsby
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73093
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 5OK4
Departure City Pacer Field Air
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVJ
Destination City Pauls Valley Mu
Destination State OK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2004 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --