| Crash location | 40.797500°N, 99.754722°W |
| Nearest city | Lexington, NE
40.780840°N, 99.741505°W 1.3 miles away |
| Tail number | N121LK |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 13 Sep 2015 |
| Aircraft type | Piper Pa 28-181 |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot reported that he exhausted all the fuel in both of the fuel tanks prior to reaching his destination, and was forced to maneuver for an emergency landing in a hay field. The pilot reported that after he lost sight of the hay bales that lined the field, he decided to "slightly pull up." Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and the right wing impacted the ground.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
The pilot's improper fuel planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and loss of engine power. Additionally, the pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the emergency landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.