AKRON, OH, USA
N9302T
PIPER PA38-112
THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN DOING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS FOR ABOUT 1.2 HOURS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF FROM RUNWAY 07, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN BY SEVERAL WITNESSES AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE WITNESSES SAID THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT, THEN WENT INTO A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE BEFORE IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN EITHER FUEL TANK. BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT. THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED DOING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, TO INCLUDE LOOKING IN BOTH FUEL TANKS AND DRAINING FUEL FROM EACH TANK. THE PILOT WAS OFFERED AND DECLINED FUEL SERVICING. RECORDS INDICATED THAT WHEN THE PILOT STARTED HIS FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN FLOWN 3.1 HOURS SINCE THE LAST REFUELED.
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND INADVERTENTLY STALLED AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE; THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND PLANNING, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, A FORCED LANDING, AN IMPROPER PROCEDURE BY TURNING BACK TO THE AIRPORT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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