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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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December 27, 2001 · Piper PA-28-161 · N3035L

Kennesaw, GA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 27, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Kennesaw, GA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Tail Number
N3035L
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL02LA023

While enroute he elected to continue his flight based on fuel calculations from the previous days flight to his intended destination. A short time later he exhausted the fuel in his right main fuel tank, and he estimated he had 25 minutes of fuel remaining. His GPS indicated he was 10 minutes from another local area airport. He elected to proceed direct to the airport when the engine experienced a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot made a forced landing and collided with transmission wires and became entangled with the wires above the ground. The pilot stated the airplane did not experience any form of mechanical problem. He simply ran out of gas.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion,which resulted in a forced landing, and subsequent in-flight collision with transmission wires.

Full Narrative

On December 26, 2001, at 2152 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N3035L registered to Flite Services LLC, operated by Sierra Aviation as 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight collided with power lines during an attempted forced landing near Kennesaw, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A visual flight plan was filed but was not activated. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Cleveland, Ohio, at 1648. The pilot stated he filed a visual flight plan to Knoxville, Tennessee. While talking with Knoxville Approach he decided he had sufficient fuel to continue flight to Clayton County Airport in Jonesboro, Georgia. He climbed to his cruising altitude and proceeded to the Atlanta VOR. He was located north of the Knoxville, Volunteer VOR, when he checked his fuel status and determined that he still had sufficient fuel to reach Knoxville. A short time later, he was north of Marietta, Georgia, and had exhausted all of his fuel in the right main tank, and he estimated he had 25 minutes of fuel remaining in the left main fuel tank. A cross check of the pilot's hand held GSP showed that the flight was 10 minutes from Cobb County McCollum Airport Marietta, Georgia. About 3 1/2 miles north of Cobb County McCollum Airport, the pilot informed the tower controller that the airplane was out of fuel. The pilot established the best glide airspeed and looked for a forced landing site. The pilot selected a clear area and continued the glide for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with transmission power lines and became entangled with the lines, and was suspended inverted about 200 feet above the ground. The pilot radioed his situation to the control tower and provided the coordinates of his location. When emergency personnel arrived, the pilot and passenger were extracted from the airplane. The pilot stated the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction, but he simply ran out of fuel. The aircraft maintenance log books were not recovered for examination.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:52 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-161
Tail NumberN3035L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind280° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 10 C
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Observation Time02:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data