Nampa, ID, USA
N33170
Piper PA-28-180
As the airplane passed over the last airport on its route of flight where fuel was available, the pilot determined he was doing good on time and had plenty of fuel to reach his destination. On its final approach to the destination airport, and after having run out of fuel in one tank, the pilot switched over to the other tank. As the second tank's contents became exhausted, the pilot, in an attempt to keep the engine running, switched back and forth between tanks a couple of times; however, this proved unsuccessful and the aircraft's fuel supply was now entirely exhausted. Seeing that he would not make the runway, the pilot landed in a field just short of the runway. The lower right wing was substantially damaged as a result of an upward compression deformation of the wing structure.
On August 23, 2003, approximately 1055 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N33170, was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power while on final approach to Runway 29 at the Nampa Municipal Airport (S67), Nampa, Idaho. The airplane was registered to G & B Aircraft Management of Woods Cross, Utah, and operated by the pilot. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight being operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Bountiful Sky Park Airport (BTF), Bountiful, Utah, at 0815. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that on the direct flight from BTF to S67 everything was going fine as he passed over Mountain Home airport, Mountain Home, Idaho, the last place where he could refuel. The pilot stated, "I was doing good on time and I was still showing plenty of fuel on the gauges." The pilot reported that as he came in for the approach to S67 he ran out of fuel in one tank. He then switched over and ran on the other tank for a minute before it was exhausted. The pilot said he switched back and forth a couple of times to get the last of the fuel. The pilot stated, "It was gone and I could see I wasn't going to make the runway." The pilot said that he established the airplane's pitch for "best glide" and landed in a field just short of the runway. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported the lower right wing was substantially damaged as a result of an upward compression deformation of the wing structure. Additional damage included the nose gear being folded back, and a 20" X 3" span-wise tear to the bottom of the left wing, approximately 3' inboard from the wingtip.
The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. A factor was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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