Incident Overview
On November 14, 2018, at 1542 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N1715J, sustained substantial damage during an accident near Presidio, Texas. The student pilot was uninjured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that before departure, the airplane was fueled with 50 gallons of fuel, which he estimated would provide about 5 hours of flight time. The planned flight from Arlington, Texas, to Presidio, Texas, was expected to last 3 hours and 40 minutes. The pilot intended to select the right fuel tank for the first hour, then switch to the left tank for 2 hours, and finally return to the right tank for the remainder of the trip.
First Engine Issue
While overflying Alpine, Texas, the engine began to sputter. At that time, the pilot had the right fuel tank selected. He switched to the left fuel tank, and the engine resumed normal operation until the left tank was depleted. The pilot sighted a ranch with a dirt landing strip and executed a forced landing without incident. After landing, he inspected the airplane and found the right fuel tank empty and the left tank containing over 15 gallons of fuel. He restarted the engine and decided to continue the flight to Presidio.
Second Power Loss
After takeoff, as the airplane reached approximately 5,500 ft, the engine began to surge and miss. When the airplane was about 6 miles from Presidio Lely International Airport, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to land in a dry riverbed, but the airplane stalled about 20 ft above the ground. The landing gear struck the terrain, damaging the outboard section of the right wing.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The fuel tanks were intact; the left fuel tank was empty, while the right fuel tank contained approximately 15 gallons of fuel. No other preimpact anomalies were identified.