Piper PA-28-140 N40939 accident near Borger, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate fuel management which led to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he added fuel, bringing the total fuel capacity to 42 gallons prior to departure. He stated that 4 hours and 6 minutes into the flight the engine began to lose power. He switched fuel tanks and turned on the electric fuel pump but was unable to restore engine power. He landed the airplane in a field and the airplane struck trees and a pole resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that he was about 2 minutes from the destination airport when the power loss occurred.

Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that neither wing fuel tank was compromised, there was no evidence of a fuel leak, and no visible fuel was in either wing fuel tank.

ADS-B data showed that the airplane was airborne for 4 hours and 17 minutes as of the last data point received. At that time the airplane was still 36 miles from the destination airport. Based on the airplane’s flight track data it would have required an additional 22 minutes to reach the destination airport. Based on the pilot’s account that the airplane was 2 minutes from the destination, the airplane was airborne for about 4 hours and 37 minutes when the loss of engine power occurred.

The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA339 for the full record.