No fatalities

Fuel Exhaustion Leads to Forced Landing and Nose-Over

Quilcene, WA, United States

On July 28, 2013, a PIPER PA-18-135 operated by RYDER JERRY was involved in an aviation accident near Quilcene, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate planning and mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported fuel exhaustion 16 miles from destination, executed a forced landing to a private airstrip, but landed long and fast. Heavy braking to avoid trees caused the airplane to nose over, resulting in substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that the airplane experienced fuel exhaustion while approximately 16 miles from the intended destination. The pilot executed a forced landing to a nearby private airstrip.

Approach and Landing

During the approach, the airplane was high and fast, resulting in a long landing. To avoid colliding with trees at the end of the airstrip, the pilot applied heavy braking.

Outcome

The heavy braking caused the airplane to nose over. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Fluid managementPilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 28 Jul 2013 PIPER PA-18-135 accident near Quilcene, WA?

A pilot reported fuel exhaustion 16 miles from destination, executed a forced landing to a private airstrip, but landed long and fast. Heavy braking to avoid trees caused the airplane to nose over, resulting in substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 28 Jul 2013 PIPER PA-18-135 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 28 Jul 2013 involved a PIPER PA-18-135, operated by RYDER JERRY, at Quilcene, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate planning and mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.