No fatalities

5 Sep 2020: Piper PA28-140 (N2875T) — Red Oak, IA

Red Oak, IA, United States

On 5 Sep 2020, a Piper PA28-140 (registration N2875T) was involved in an aviation accident near Red Oak, IA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

On September 5, 2020, a Piper PA-28-140 (N2875T) was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Red Oak, Iowa, after it was found with no usable fuel. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries.

Accident Overview

On September 5, 2020, at about 1400 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 (registration N2875T) was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Red Oak, Iowa. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries.

Accident Sequence and Damage

The airplane was located in a field following a forced landing. An examination revealed that there was no usable fuel in either wing tank or the respective wing fuel lines. The right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The overall damage to the aircraft was classified as substantial.

Postaccident Investigation

A postaccident examination of the airplane, engine, and fuel system was conducted. The examination found no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board requested a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (Form 6120.1) from the pilot, but no such report was received.

Contributing factors

Fluid management