MARTINSBURG, WV, USA
N8738E
PIPER PA-28-151
THE AIRPLANE WAS PURCHASED AT NORTHAMPTON AND IT WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE NEW HOME BASE AT PINE BLUFF, AR. THE PASSENGERS HELD PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 4 HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, BASED ON THE HOBBSMETER AND TACHOMETER TIMES. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE NEARED MARTINSBURG, AN INTERMEDIATE STOP, THE FUEL PRESSURE GAGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING. HE TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP, BUT HE DOES NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT AFTERWARDS. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, AND INDICATED THAT HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE MOST OF THE FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THEY STOPPED EARLIER WHILE EN ROUTE AT ANOTHER AIRPORT, BUT THERE WERE NO SERVICES THERE, SO THE FLIGHT WAS RESUMED. HE SAID THAT MRB WAS IN SIGHT WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE SAID THE PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE FLIGHT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SPILL WAS NOTED.
FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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