Piper PA 28 N2367R

Summary

On 2 December 2016 at about 23:28 local time, a Piper PA 28 registered N2367R was involved in an accident near Thomson, Georgia, 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

2 December 2016 at 23:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Thomson, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Thomson-McDuffie County (HQU)

Coordinates

33.5292, -82.5064

Aircraft

Piper PA 28

Registration

N2367R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leesburg → Thomson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

GAA17CA089

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while on a cross-country flight, he diverted from his destination to a nearby airport due to low fuel. He added that the right fuel tank "went dry" and that the engine lost power on downwind, so he switched to the left fuel tank, and the engine momentarily restarted before it experienced a total power loss of power on base. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the instrument landing system lights, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He reported that he miscalculated the fuel and "ran out of gas." A postaccident examination found about 1 cup of fuel in one of the tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.