The pilot reported that he departed from Fremont Airport (14G) in Ohio in the Piper PA-28-140. He performed a touch-and-go landing at Fostoria Metro Airport (KFZI) and was planning a touch-and-go landing at Sandusky County Regional Airport (S24) before returning to 14G, his home airport.
After an uneventful touch-and-go at S24, during the initial climb, the engine lost all power.
He performed a forced landing into a cornfield about ½ mile northeast of S24.
The pilot was met by first responders and was taken to a nearby hospital for his serious injuries.
The pilot later reported that he was unsure why the engine stopped, but stated, “…could be a failure to switch tanks.”
FAA inspectors responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage.
The fuselage came to rest upright and there was no fire. The right wing separated from the fuselage during the accident and was found inverted and adjacent to the main wreckage, with the right main landing gear still attached. The fuselage was buckled.
The engine remained attached to the fuselage and the propeller remained attached to the engine. The left wing was undamaged.
Although the right wing fuel tank was ruptured in the crash, about seven gallons of fuel were recovered from that tank. The left wing fuel tank was intact and undamaged. When it was drained at the accident site by the inspectors, about one quart of fuel was recovered. The cockpit fuel tank selector was in the left tank position.
According to the FAA inspectors, the airplane was last fueled with 18.8 gallons on March 30, 2023. According to aircraft and pilot records, the airplane was operated about 3.97 hours since the last refueling before the accident on May 6, 2023.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing.
NTSB Identification: 130452
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This May 2023 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
