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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

June 19, 2011 · Piper PA18-160 · N177SC

Ridgeville, SC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 19, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Ridgeville, SC
Aircraft
Piper PA18-160
Tail Number
N177SC
Operator
Atlanta Aerial Billboards
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA11CA352

The pilot stated that he filled the airplane's fuel tanks to capacity, a total of 36 gallons, prior to departing on the flight to the banner-tow site, which was approximately 2 hours away. After picking up the banner, he flew the banner for about 35 minutes before dropping it back at the airport. He then departed to an airport approximately 27 miles away in order to refuel the airplane. After landing at the airport, the pilot found the fuel pump locked and departed to a second airport approximately 20 miles away. The pilot stated that the weather began to deteriorate and he decided to turn around. The pilot then elected to divert to a third airport. Approximately 7 miles from the airport, the airplane’s engine lost all power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a railroad track and, during the landing rollout, the airplane's right wing impacted a pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. After a Federal Aviation Administration inspector supplied fuel to the engine during a postaccident examination, the engine started and ran with no anomalies. The pilot stated that he ran out of fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.

Full Narrative

The pilot stated that he filled the airplane's fuel tanks to capacity, a total of 36 gallons, prior to departing on the flight to the banner tow site, which was approximately 2 hours away. After picking up the banner, he flew the banner for about 35 minutes before dropping it back at the airport. He then departed to an airport approximately 27 miles away in order to refuel the airplane. After landing at the airport, the pilot found the fuel pump locked and departed to a second airport approximately 20 miles away. The pilot stated that the weather began to deteriorate, and he decided to turn around. The pilot then elected to divert to a third airport. Approximately seven miles from the airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a railroad track, and during the landing rollout, the airplane's right wing impacted a pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. During postaccident examination of the airplane, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector plumbed fuel to the engine, after which it started and ran with no anomalies.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:45 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA18-160
Tail NumberN177SC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAtlanta Aerial Billboards
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 SERIES · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

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

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 70 F
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time03:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data