Piper PA-28-180 N2451R

Summary

On 27 August 2000 at about 23:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N2451R, operated by Dennis Braunesreither, was involved in an accident near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 August 2000 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Plattsmouth, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Plattsmouth Municipal (PMV)

Coordinates

40.9996, -95.8900

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N2451R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dennis Braunesreither

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ainsworth → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI00LA272

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper preflight planning, improper in-flight planning and decision not to land before exhausting the airplane's fuel. Factors relating to this accident were the power lines, the roadway, and the ditch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that prior to departing Spearfish, South Dakota, he fueled the airplane with 30 gallons. Approaching Fremont, Nebraska, the pilot said he noticed his fuel gauges were showing approximately 10 gallons in each tank. Nearing his destination airport at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, the pilot said the fuel tank he was on 'seemed to run dry.' He switched tanks and continued to the airport. Approximately 2 miles from the airport, he turned on the fuel boost pump. Shortly after, the airplane's engine 'sputtered, then quit.' The pilot said that he 'switched tanks again, rocked the wings to free all the fuel, and the engine ran for a couple of seconds, and quit.' The pilot said that he repeated this action two additional times with no success. He held the airplane's altitude so that it would clear a set of power lines in front of him. 'The stall warning light was flashing as I passed over the wires. I dropped the nose at this point to prevent a stall.' Seeing a roadway ahead, the pilot dropped the nose of the airplane so that he wouldn't 'hit the ditch and road embankment. We hit the ground and turned ... sideways ...' Examination of the airplane revealed approximately 1/2 cup of fuel on board. No other anomalies were revealed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.