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 due to fuel exhaustion during its approach to Winchester Regional Airport, resulting in a damaged aircraft but an uninjured pilot.
- The engine failed after approximately three hours of flight, despite the pilot's estimated 4.5-hour endurance and a left fuel gauge indicating "E."
- The pilot had initially attempted to land at Martinsburg but continued to the destination airport after being unable to activate pilot-controlled lighting.
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