Piper PA 28-181 N121LK

Summary

On 13 September 2015 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA 28-181 registered N121LK, operated by Hedgehoppers Flying Club Inc, was involved in an accident near Lexington, Nebraska, United States. 2 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

13 September 2015 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lexington, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

40.7975, -99.7547

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-181

Registration

N121LK

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Hedgehoppers Flying Club Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lebanon → Lexington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA261

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper fuel planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and loss of engine power. Additionally, the pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the emergency landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he exhausted all the fuel in both of the fuel tanks prior to reaching his destination, and was forced to maneuver for an emergency landing in a hay field. The pilot reported that after he lost sight of the hay bales that lined the field, he decided to "slightly pull up." Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and the right wing impacted the ground. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.