CANTON, KY, USA
N6943W
PIPER PA-28-140
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD 25 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE DEPARTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY VERIFY HIS FUEL LOAD BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS BELOW THE TAB IN THE TANKS USED FOR SIGHT MEASUREMENTS. ABOUT TWO HOURS AND 13 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DECIDED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN A SHALLOW LAKE ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE; THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT COMPROMISED AND CONTAINED ABOUT ONE QUART OF FUEL IN EACH TANK. THIS AMOUNT IS LESS THAN THE PUBLISHED USABLE FUEL QUANTITY FOR THE AIRPLANE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.
On May 17, 1993, about 1315 hours eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 28 140, N6943W, registered to Robert G. Wadeson, Jr., was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed from Louisville, Mississippi, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot in his statement to the NTSB; "On our second leg of flight from [New Orleans, Louisiana] to [Kokomo, Indiana], we stopped at Louisville for fuel. We took on 17 gallons, with 25 gallons on board we departed for Lake Barkley . . . . two hours and 13 minutes into the flight . . . the engine quit. . . . I put the plane down about 20 yards from shore in 3 to 4 feet of water." According to the pilot in his statement to the FAA, he was unable to accurately determine his fuel load, because the amount of fuel was below the tab in the tanks used for sight measurements. An examination by an FAA inspector at the accident site revealed that "approximately one quart of fuel from each of the two tanks . . . " was found, and the tanks were not compromised. The inspector also reported that the airplane ". . . suffered substantial damaged to the right wing." No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING WHEN DETERMINING HIS FUEL LOAD, WHICH LED TO AN EXHAUSTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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