Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Dover, DE

On January 13, 2013, a Piper PA-28R-200 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Dover, DE. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

January 13, 2013

Place

Dover, DE

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

39.172°N, 75.490°W

NTSB ID

20130114X61927

Official records · ERA13LA111

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC Transcript (SBY Tower): Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Transcript (DOV Approach): Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Transcript (DOV Tower): Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Departure Timeline (ATL Approach): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 13, 2013, about 1845 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N4975S, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power while on approach to Dover Air Force Base (DOV), Dover, Delaware. The private pilot was fatally injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Summit Airport (EVY), Middletown, Delaware. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and originated from Kaolin Field (OKZ), Sandersville, Georgia, about 1330. Review of the pilot's flight plan revealed an estimated time enroute of 3 hours 45 minutes, with 5 hours 30 minutes of fuel onboard. The pilot filed for a cruising altitude of 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and listed an alternate airport of Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), Baltimore, Maryland. Review of fueling records revealed that the pilot completely fueled the airplane before departing on the accident flight. According to information provided by the U.S. Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and obtained from a handheld GPS, the airplane was in radio and radar contact with Dover Approach at 1647, while descending for a GPS approach to EVY. The controller advised the pilot that a previous airplane had to fly a missed approach at EVY due to weather, then flew another missed approach at Wilmington, Delaware, before diverting again. At 1649, the pilot asked the controller what th

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to land the airplane at multiple airports that were equipped with adequate instrument approach procedures while operating in low instrument meteorological conditions and his delay in declaring a fuel-related emergency, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

More accidents in DE

• Cessna 750, Mar 1, 2012
• Piper PA28, Sep 26, 2015
• Fairchild Hiller FH-1100, May 23, 2010
• Beech BE-200, Jun 16, 1992
• Piper PA-34, Nov 2, 2013

Browse: Delaware · Piper aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.