Accident Overview
On July 24, 2010, at approximately 0800 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, registration N1158X, sustained substantial damage while executing a go-around at Black Hills Airport (SPF) in Spearfish, South Dakota. The private pilot reported minor injuries; the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal purposes, had departed from Townsend Airport (8U8), Townsend, Montana, around 0500 and planned to land at SPF for fuel. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that as the airplane crossed the runway 30 threshold, the airspeed was 70 mph—10 mph slower than his typical landing speed. He decided to perform a go-around and flew the full length of the runway before initiating a crosswind turn. While turning onto the downwind leg, the engine ceased producing power. The pilot then executed a forced landing to an open field. He noted that he did not see a tree in the field; after touchdown, the right wing struck a tree.
Examination Findings
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and the accident site. The wreckage path measured approximately 160 feet on a northeasterly heading. The initial point of impact was a ground scar from the left wingtip. The right wing was found lodged around a tree trunk about 100 feet from the initial impact point, and the main wreckage came to rest approximately 60 feet from that tree. The left fuel tank was full, while no fuel was evident in the right wing’s fuel tank.
Pilot Report on Fuel Management
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane. He indicated that he had not switched the fuel tanks prior to landing and stated that the “engine quit due to fuel starvation.” The direct flight distance between Townsend Airport and Black Hills Airport is about 344 nautical miles.