Incident Overview
On June 19, 2016, at approximately 2232 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180 airplane, registration N5661R, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the roof of a warehouse following a complete loss of engine power during approach to William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant and owner of the aircraft, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital after being lowered from the warehouse roof by emergency responders.
Flight Details
The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane departed from an unknown airport near St. Louis, Missouri, approximately 1730, destined for HOU.
Sequence of Events
When the airplane was about six miles north of HOU, the pilot informed the air traffic controller that he had lost all engine power and would not be able to reach the airport. The controller dispatched emergency equipment to the airplane's last known position. A police helicopter quickly located the wreckage on the roof of a 40-foot-tall warehouse. Emergency responders treated the pilot at the scene, lowered him from the roof, and transported him to the hospital. There was no evidence of a fuel spill, and no post-impact fire occurred.
Examination Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and found no fuel in either fuel tank. During a hospital interview, the pilot stated that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. No information was obtained during the investigation detailing the departure point or the amount of fuel onboard at the start of the flight.