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April 7, 2001 · Piper PA-25-235 · N4514Y

Pearland, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 7, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Pearland, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235
Tail Number
N4514Y
Operator
Night Hawk Aerial Advertising
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW01LA094

The pilot returned to his home base after a banner towing flight. He experienced difficulty releasing the banner and landed on the grass between two runways. He dragged the banner on the ground and it eventually released; however, he was too close to the end of the runway to stop, so he performed a go-around. While he was in the traffic pattern, "he ran out of fuel" and the engine "quit." The pilot was unable to make it back to the runway and elected to make a forced landing into trees in a residential area. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the trees.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion while in the traffic pattern.

Full Narrative

On April 6, 2001, at 1930 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee single-engine airplane, N4514Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees in a residential area during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on approach at Clover Field, Pearland, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by Night Hawk Aerial Advertising of Pearland, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner towing flight. The local flight originated from Clover Field at 1715. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the pilot stated that he returned to Clover Field after a banner towing flight over downtown Houston. He stated that he experienced difficulty releasing the banner and landed on the grass between runways 14L and 14R. He stated that he dragged the banner on the ground and it eventually released; however, he was too close to the end of the runway to stop, so he performed a go-around. The pilot told the FAA inspector that while he was in the traffic pattern "he ran out of fuel" and the engine "quit." The pilot was unable to make it back to the runway and elected to make a forced landing into trees in a residential area. The airplane impacted the trees, its left wing separated, and the right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 CDT
Nearest AirportClover Field (0nm N)
Runway14L
Runway Length2800 ft
Runway Width90 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-25-235
Tail NumberN4514Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNight Hawk Aerial Advertising
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind150° @ 15 kt, gusting 19 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingOvercast 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data