NASHVILLE, TN, USA
N2505Q
Piper PA-28-181
After about 3 hours of flight, the pilot contemplated stopping for fuel, but elected to continue. The flight was about 7 nautical miles west of an airport, when the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a turn to land at the nearby airport, but was unable. While descending for a forced landing, the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane then descended and came to rest upright in a field. The pilot stated that at the time of the loss of engine power, the left fuel gauge indicated empty and the right fuel gauge indicated 1/8. Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed the fuel tanks were intact and empty.
On March 15, 1997, about 1316 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N2505Q, registered to a private individual, experienced a total loss of engine power and was substantially damaged during a forced landing southwest of the John C. Tune Airport, Nashville, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1030 eastern standard time from the Asheboro Municipal Airport, Asheboro, North Carolina. The pilot stated that during cruise flight about 3 hours into the flight, he contemplated stopping at a nearby airport to refuel but elected to continue to his planned destination. The flight was about 7 nautical miles west of the John C. Tune airport when the engine experienced a loss of power. He then advised ATC of the loss of power and was vectored toward there. Unable to land at the airport the pilot executed a forced landing to a field but while descending, the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane then impacted the field and came to rest upright. The pilot further stated that at the time of the loss of engine power, the left fuel gauge indicated empty and the right fuel gauge indicated 1/8 capacity. Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no fuel remaining in the fuel tanks and no fuel leakage was noted.
improper planning/decision by the pilot, by failing to ensure there was sufficient fuel to reach a suitable landing area, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, a forced landing, and collision with a tree. The faulty fuel indication was a related factor.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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