Piper PA-28-235 N5078M

Summary

On 5 March 2022 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N5078M was involved in an accident near Monee, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one 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

5 March 2022 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Monee, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Bult Field Airport (C56)

Coordinates

41.3774, -87.6798

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N5078M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1963

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA135

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons during a departure climb that resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the personal flight planned to remain in the departure airport’s traffic pattern. During the departure climb, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot preformed a forced landing on a field, and the airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain to the engine mount. The pilot stated that he had the fuel selector positioned to the left main fuel tank for the flight. Postaccident examination revealed 16 gallons of fuel in the left main fuel tank. Minimal fuel was found in the engine carburetor bowl, and no fuel in the fuel line leading to the carburetor, which was consistent with fuel starvation to the engine. There were no mechanical anomalies identified that would have precluded normal engine operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.