NTSB Factual Report

On November 27, 2002, at 1540 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9020J, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted on to a plateau, 6 miles west of Vernal, Utah. Prior to the accident, the airplane's engine lost power. Visual meteorological conditions on top prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. A third passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Laramie, Wyoming, and was en route to Provo, Utah.

The pilot said he had left Fort Collins, Colorado, earlier that day with full fuel. While en route toward Provo, he said they encountered weather. The pilot elected to land at Laramie and wait for the weather to clear. The pilot said they waited for 2 hours. After checking the weather, the pilot said they took off from Laramie and resumed their trip to Provo. Approaching Vernal, Utah, the pilot said he encountered weather again. He said he deviated south and then back north trying to locate a path around the weather. He said he burned an hour's worth of fuel during the deviation. The pilot said he looked at his fuel and determined that he would need to land and get gas. The pilot said there was a layer of fog over the valley and over Vernal Airport. He said he deviated first to Shane, Utah, then went to Roosevelt, Utah, and then back northeast toward Vernal. At that time he noted he had 7 gallons of fuel remaining.

The pilot said he spoke to another pilot who was doing instrument approaches at Roosevelt. That pilot told him the weather was too bad to land at Roosevelt, and that he was going to Vernal. The pilot said that the other pilot told him that he could get into Vernal. The pilot said he was right above the clouds at 2,000 feet agl (above ground level). He said he ran out of gas on one tank 15 miles from the airport. Approximately 4 miles southwest of the Vernal Airport, the pilot said he ran out of gas on the other tank. The pilot said he came out of the clouds 400 feet above a highway. He said there was mountainous terrain all around him. The pilot said he saw a plateau ahead. He said he pulled the airplane up and put it down on the plateau.

An examination of the airplane showed that all three landing gear were broken aft. The bottom of the engine cowling and bottom fuselage skin were crushed upward. The bottom of the firewall was bent aft. The right wing, right flap, and right aileron were bent upward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the two wing fuel tanks showed no fuel in either tank.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision. Factors contributing to the accident were fuel exhaustion and the fog.