What happened
On 15 March 2007, a Piper PA 28-140, registration ZS-DZH, was engaged in a training flight from El Mirrador Private Aerodrome toward Bethlehem. The flight was part of a larger cross-country journey that had begun the previous day from Virginia Aerodrome. Due to deteriorating weather conditions during the initial leg of the trip, the crew had diverted to El Mirrador and remained there overnight.
On the morning of the incident, the pilot attempted to continue to Bethlehem but discovered that no refueling services were available at El Mirrador. Based on initial calculations, the pilot estimated a flight time of 51 minutes, which would have left a contingency of 70 minutes of fuel. However, approximately 20 minutes into the flight, the aircraft encountered significant headwinds measuring roughly 55 knots. These conditions drastically reduced the aircraft's ground speed, forcing a recalculation of the remaining fuel endurance, which was now estimated to be 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Recognizing the risk of fuel exhaustion, the pilot decided to execute a precautionary landing. An open field adjacent to the R26 road, situated between Fouriesburg and Bethlehem, was selected as a suitable site. The landing was completed without incident, and the pilot reported that some fuel remained in the tanks at the time of touchdown. No 0 fatalities or injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight planning, meteorological conditions, and aircraft maintenance status. Records indicated that the aircraft's last Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) had been completed on 17 February 2007. At the time of the incident, the Piper PA 28-140 had flown an additional 60.2 hours since that inspection. The maintenance organization responsible for the certification held a valid approval at the time of the event. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's fuel calculations and the impact of the 55-knot headwind on the flight's progress.