Piper PA-28-140 N471FT

Summary

On 29 August 1993 at about 02:39 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N471FT was involved in an accident near Grand Prairie, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 August 1993 at 02:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Prairie, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.5909, -97.0401

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N471FT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stephenville → Addison

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW93LA247

3 people had minor injuries.

THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS, THE PILOT'S MISCALCULATION OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REQUIRED FOR THE FLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT REFUELED THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE FINAL LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY AND HAD MISJUDGED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REACH HIS DESTINATION. EN ROUTE THERE WAS A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT INITIATED A NIGHT FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH WIRES AND TREES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.