NTSB Factual Report

On August 16, 2013, about 1947 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6919B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power two nautical miles west of Goose Creek Airport (28A), Indian Trail, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by an individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP), Tupelo, Mississippi, at 1405 CDT.

The pilot stated he departed with 44 gallons of fuel on board. After departure, the airplane climbed to and then cruised at an altitude of 7,500 feet, before it was climbed to and then cruised at 9,500 feet. At the conclusion of the flight, while descending through 1,500 feet for landing at 28A, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot cycled the fuel selector from the left wing tank to the right wing tank and back again. He did not attempt to restart the engine, but did engage the starter to change the propeller position. The pilot identified a field for the forced landing, where the airplane touched down and struck a barbed wire fence before it came to rest.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector revealed substantial damage to the elevator and right wing leading edge. The right fuel tank gauge indicated empty, while the left fuel tank gauge indicated below ¼-full.

The pilot held an airline transport certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land and instrument airplane. He reported 5,533 total hours of flight experience, of which 40 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on June 24, 2013.

The airplane was manufactured in 1956 and was equipped with a Lycoming O-320 Series, 180-horsepower reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on February 14, 2013 at 5,048 total aircraft hours. The engine had accumulated 1,164 total hours of operation since its most recent overhaul.

On August 20, 2013, the FAA inspector serviced the airplane with fuel, and continuity of the airplane's 44.0 gallon fuel system was confirmed. Utilizing the airplane's battery and fuel system, the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption.

According to the Piper PA-22-150 Owners Handbook, at sea level, the fuel consumption rate at 75-percent power was 9 gallons per hour. The handbook further illustrated, "Fuel consumption during sea level cruising is given on the chart. The consumption is determined by the various flight conditions. At 75 [percent] of power at altitude, fuel consumption will be somewhat higher than at that power setting at sea level, even with the mixture properly leaned."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.