Piper PA-28-140 accident near Ennis, Texas, August 20, 2000
On August 20, 2000 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N41375, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ennis, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot's improper fuel selector positioning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2000 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ennis, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N41375 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7425231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was maneuvering the aircraft when the engine cowling blew open. The pilot then heard a loud bang and the engine experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed. The FAA inspector found the fuel selector positioned on the left fuel tank. The flight instructor stated that she moved the fuel selector to that position after the accident. The salvage personnel, who recovered the airplane, stated that they drained approximately 15 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tank and the left fuel tank was empty. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have prevented engine operation. No fuel was found in the electric fuel pump, the fuel line to the fuel sump, the sump, the fuel line to the carburetor, or the carburetor bowl.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 536 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 259 in the last 90 days; 126 in the last 30 days; 422 as pilot in command; 213 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2000; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Training Center
The flight
- Departed from: LNC Lancaster TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.