At about 23:23 eastern time, a Piper PA-28-161 lost engine power on approach to Winchester Regional Airport and was damaged in the ensuing forced landing. The pilot was not injured. The pilot estimated the airplane had a full-tanks endurance of 4.5 hours, but after three hours aloft the left fuel gauge read E and the right fuel gauge indicated . He attempted to land in Martinsburg, W.Va., but could not activate the pilot-controlled lighting, so he continued to his destination. The engine failed while on a 1-mile final for runway 14. The pilot switched tanks and the engine revved briefly, then died. The left fuel tank contained about 1 pints of fuel. The right tank was compromised in the landing.
April 20, Winchester, Va. / Piper Warrior
At about 23:23 eastern time, a Piper PA-28-161 lost engine power on approach to Winchester Regional Airport and was damaged in the ensuing forced landing. The pilot was not injured. The pilot estimated the airplane had a full-tanks endurance of 4.5 hours, but after three hours aloft the left fuel gauge read E and the right fuel gauge indicated . He attempted to land in Martinsburg, W.Va., but could not activate the pilot-controlled lighting, so he continued to his destination. The engine failed while on a 1-mile final for runway 14. The pilot switched tanks and the engine revved briefly, then died. The left fuel tank contained about 1 pints of fuel. The right tank was compromised in the...
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-28-161 experienced engine failure and a subsequent forced landing near Winchester Regional Airport due to fuel exhaustion, though the pilot was uninjured.
- The engine failed after three hours of flight, despite an estimated 4.5-hour endurance, with fuel gauges already indicating extremely low levels.
- The pilot bypassed an earlier landing attempt at Martinsburg due to inoperable pilot-controlled lighting, leading to the engine failing one mile from the destination runway.
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