Piper PA-28-140 accident near Dale, Indiana, September 23, 1994
On September 23, 1994 at about 9:51 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6244W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dale, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to assure an adequate fuel supply for the flight. Factors associated with the accident were poor preflight planning, inattentiveness to the fuel supply during the flight, the ditch, and the utility pole which was contacted during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1994 · about 9:51 pm local time
- Place
- Dale, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6244W · registry record · serial 28-20288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW TO THE AIRPORT WHICH WAS INTENDED AS A REFUELING STOP BUT HAD TO MAKE A MISSED APPROACH DUE TO A RAIN STORM. WHILE EN ROUTE TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT SELECTED A ROAD ON WHICH TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING BUT HAD TO VEER THE AIRPLANE OFF THE ROAD DUE TO VEHICLE TRAFFIC. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A DITCH AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A TELEPHONE POLE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT STATED SHE DID NOT MONITOR THE FUEL GAGES AS WELL AS SHE SHOULD HAVE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 503 hours in all; 403 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 482 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,972 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 1994; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 61C Fort Atkinson WI at 5:15 pm
- Destination: EVV Evansville IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft; not recorded at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from EVV, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.