Piper PA-28-151 accident near Festus, Missouri, October 8, 2007
On October 8, 2007 at about 12:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N43246, was substantially damaged in an accident near Festus, Missouri (Festus Memorial Airport,). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight, fuel system water contamination and fuel starvation which resulted in a loss of engine power during landing approach. An additional cause was the emergency landing procedure not followed by the pilot following a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were the trees, and night light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2007 · about 12:47 pm local time
- Place
- Festus, Missouri · Festus Memorial Airport, · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N43246 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted trees in a wooded area on a hill while reportedly en route to a destination airport located approximately 1.5 miles from the accident site. The wooded area was adjacent to a clearing and pasture. Both wings of the airplane were separated from the airframe and possessed damage consistent with tree strikes. Examination of the wreckage revealed the left wing fuel tank was empty and the right wing fuel tank contained approximately one cup of water and one quart of aviation fuel. The right wing fuel line at the wing root contained approximately one teaspoon of water and one teaspoon of aviation fuel. The electric fuel pump and gascolator contained water. There was no liquid in the carburetor bowl. Damage to the propeller was consistent with no engine power. The engine operated with no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation during a post accident engine run. The airplane flaps were in the fully retracted position and not in the extended position which is indicated for a forced landing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 327 hours in all; 54 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 246 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,632.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWA Marion IL at 10:30 am
- Destination: FES Festus MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from CPS, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.