ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 353546
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| Date: | Wednesday 25 November 1998 |
| Time: | 14:00 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-180 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N7177W |
| MSN: | 28-984 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3028 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-A3A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Reno, OH -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Sussex, NJ (KFWN) |
| Parkersburg, WV (PKB | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The airplane departed on a cross country flight with full fuel tanks. The pilot flight-planned for 4 hours of flight, but after 2 1/2 hours noticed the 'fuel gauges looked unusually low.' He diverted to an airport, and 1/2 hour later, about 2 nautical miles from that airport, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. Post flight inspection revealed evidence of slight fuel leakage at the carburetor fuel inlet fitting, a pinhole leak in the fuel primer line, and a very slight fuel stain emanating from the left wing fuel cap. There was no evidence of faulty fuel gauges at low fuel levels. A review of the local sectional aeronautical chart revealed that the pilot selected an airport which was ahead, and along the intended route. However, there were numerous other airports which were closer, and could have been selected, but were not along the intended route.
Probable Cause: The pilot's disregard of the information provided by the fuel gauges, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors in the accident included leaks in the fuel system, and the pilot's reliance on using timing alone to determine fuel consumption.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB NYC99LA031
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 15 December 1985 | N7177W | Private | 0 | Mt. Joy, PA | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Mar-2024 07:56 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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