BOX ELDER, SD, USA
N8422U
PIPER PA-28-181
BEFORE REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE PLT CONTACTED APCH CONTROL & REPORTED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 40 MI AWAY & WAS LOW ON FUEL. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER, THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PLT STATED THAT HE 'COULD POSSIBLY MAKE ELLSWORTH' BUT THE CONTROLLER TOLD HIM THAT ELLSWORTH AFB WAS CLOSED (FOR AN AIRSHOW). THE PLT THEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE AFB & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A FIELD. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH A TREE. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND & CAME TO REST IN A CREEK. THE PLT'S WIFE SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG & WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR 5 DAYS. SHE NEARLY DROWNED AFTER THE PLANE CRASHED, BUT THE PLT & ANOTHER PERSON HELD HER HEAD OUT OF WATER UNTIL SHE COULD BE EXTRICATED FROM THE WRECKAGE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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