Piper PA-28 Fuel Exhaustion Incident Near Alexandria Airport (N4385L)

Incident Overview and Fuel Status Reports A pilot operating a Piper PA-28 was at cruise altitude when he informed air traffic control (ATC) that he was running low on fuel. At the time of this initial report, the aircraft was 7 miles from Allentown Airport. Despite the fuel status, the pilot elected to continue toward his destination airport rather than divert. ## Engine Failure and Approach Approximately 10 minutes after the initial low-fuel report, the pilot requested that ATC direct him to the nearest airport, stating that fuel was becoming critical. About 23 minutes after first reporting low fuel to ATC, the engine quit. The aircraft was then vectored to the nearest airport. ## Loss of Radar Contact and Crash Radar contact with the aircraft was lost at 1,100 feet and 2.5 miles north of Alexandria Airport. After breaking out of the clouds on approach to the airport, the aircraft began clipping trees. The pilot flared the aircraft to slow its forward speed, and it crashed into the trees.