Piper PA28 accident near Butler, Kentucky, May 27, 2018
On May 27, 2018 at about 10:18 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA28, registered N95410, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Butler, Kentucky. 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 improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2018 · about 10:18 pm local time
- Place
- Butler, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1969 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N95410 · no longer on the register · serial 28-25930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while en route, the airplane's engine began to run roughly and lose power. He immediately turned toward the nearest airport and slowed the airplane to 100 knots. He added that he pushed the mixture to full rich, which caused a short burst of power that lasted just a few seconds. He then pumped the throttle and applied carburetor heat but then realized he did not have enough altitude to make the airport and began to look for an alternate landing site. The pilot further added that, after locating a ridgetop field, he slowed the airplane to 75 knots and pulled one notch of flaps and trimmed for landing. As he lined the airplane up with the field, he pulled full flaps about 300 ft above the ground. The touchdown was smooth, and the airplane continued the landing roll in 3-ft-tall wheat. Subsequently, the right wing struck an industrial irrigation nozzle, and the right wing separated from the fuselage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and stabilator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that, during the engine failure, he did not attempt to change the fuel tank from the empty right wing fuel tank and recommended to make the fuel selector check the first part of the restart procedure. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, while on scene, he was able to run the engine. He added that the left tank was about 1/2 full of fuel. He switched the fuel selector to the left tank and started the engine normally. The oil pressure was fine; the fuel pressure was normal on both the electric pump and engine-driven pump; and the magnetos checked fine.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Not used/operated
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 552 hours in all; 259 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 442 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,885 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 4,239 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKX Kennett MO at 6:05 pm
- Destination: TZR Columbus OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KLUK, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 6, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Picture | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.