Piper PA28-151 N1473X

Summary

On 15 July 1998 at about 06:30 local time, a Piper PA28-151 registered N1473X was involved in an accident near Anthon, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 1998 at 06:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Anthon, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

42.3802, -95.8599

Aircraft

Piper PA28-151

Registration

N1473X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cresco → Columbus

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI98LA252

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot-in-command's improper preflight planning, preparation and fuel management resulting in an unscheduled landing and impact with a pole.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an interview, the pilot stated that his time enroute to Ellen Church Field was 2-1/2 hours. Upon arrival, he visually checked the fuel level in each wing tank and stated that it was 'just below the tabs'. He did not obtain any additional fuel. The pilot reported that his cruise altitude on return to Columbus Municipal Airport was 3500' msl, the power was set to 2300 rpm and the mixture contol was retarded 1/4'. The pilot reported that the progression of his check points on return to Columbus Municipal Airport was as scheduled for approximately the first two hours, after which the flight progressed slower than planned and that the fuel gauges were now indicating 1/4 fuel in each tank. Moonlight was visible from the left side of the aircraft and lightening was visible from the right side. He also stated that he selected the right fuel tank to restart the engine since the left tank was empty and the engine stopped running. With 1/4 fuel remaining in the right tank, the pilot stated that he had only twelve minutes of fuel remaining, so he decided to look for a landing area. With thunderstorms between his location and Sioux Gateway Airport, near Sioux City, Iowa, he searched the area and decided to land on a black top road. He impacted a pole and did not want initiate a climb because he was unsure as to the condition of his flight controls. Inspection of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors revealed that all the fuel sump valves and the fuel caps were in the closed position. Fuel was observed to be present in the left tank. The fuel selector was selected to the left tank. The FAA also confirmed that the pilot had been briefed on convective activity for his route of flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.