No fatalities

27 Aug 2009: PIPER J5A — HORAN MARK E — Holland, MA

Holland, MA, United States

On 27 Aug 2009, a PIPER J5A operated by HORAN MARK E was involved in an aviation accident near Holland, MA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot began a flight with an unknown amount of fuel. Shortly after departure on the second flight of the day, the engine lost all power. During the forced landing, the left main gear caught tall grass, causing a ground loop and substantial damage. Post-accident examination revealed only 5 ounces of fuel and no odor or spillage.

Accident Summary

A pilot reported that he started the day with an unknown quantity of fuel. Shortly after departing on his second flight of the day, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing.

During the landing, the left main landing gear contacted tall grass, which caused the aircraft to ground loop. The ground loop resulted in substantial damage to the left landing gear, left wing strut, and left lower fuselage.

Findings

A post-accident examination of the wreckage was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspection revealed no odor of fuel and no fuel spillage. The inspector found 5 ounces of fuel in the airplane. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane before the accident.

Contributing factors

PilotFluid level