Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-181 near Safety Harbor, FL — 2014-03-22

Final reportERA14FA162
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Date
2014-03-22
Location
Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-181
Registration
N8309L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to cocaine use.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to cocaine use.

NTSB narrative

During the night cross-country flight, the airplane had been flying for 4 hours 21 minutes and was about 6 miles from the destination airport when the pilot reported a fuel emergency to air traffic control. The pilot stated that he was going to attempt to land on a highway; however, the airplane collided with 160-ft-tall power lines that crossed the highway. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine, and only a few ounces of fuel were recovered from the wreckage. The airplane held 48 usable gallons of fuel and consumed about 10.5 gallons per hour, resulting in an expected endurance of 4 hours 35 minutes, which does not account for fuel used during taxi, takeoff, and climb. The pilot's toxicology results were positive for cocaine, and impairment from cocaine likely affected his preflight fuel planning abilities and en route fuel management.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have diverted for fuel before declaring emergency.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • Photos
  • 15 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents15

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