NTSB Factual Report

On November 22, 2005, about 1945 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with rough terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power when the airplane was in descent for the Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport, near Marshall, Missouri. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported that he sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from the Sheridan Airport, near Sheridan, Indiana, at 1735 eastern standard time.

The pilot's accident report stated:

Departed Sheridan, IN at 5:35pm local time. Final destination was

to be Harrington, MO with a fuel stop at Marshall, MO. Airplane

had full fuel on departure from Sheridan. Forced landing was 4.6

[nautical miles] short of intended fuel stop at Marshall, MO.

The pilot's safety recommendation was:

I should have scheduled my fuel stop earlier. I also should have

leaned out the fuel mixture and used the proper power setting to

obtain 75% power. As it was I flight planned for a 10 [gallons] per

hour fuel consumption when in fact my actual fuel consumption rate

was higher.

NTSB Probable Cause

An in-flight loss of engine power in descent due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot's inaccurate preflight planning. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered and the night conditions.