Piper PA-28-235 accident near Coatesville, Pennsylvania, August 6, 2002
On August 6, 2002 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N31SW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coatesville, Pennsylvania (Chester County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inaccurate in-flight planning and fuel consumption calculations, and his improper decision to not land and refuel which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2002 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Coatesville, Pennsylvania · Chester County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N31SW · registry record · serial 28-7410110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he flight planned the cross-country flight using a "more conservative" fuel burn rate of 15 gallons per hour. The flight departed with full fuel tanks. During the 4.8-hour flight, the pilot diverted to a different airport due to weather, and remained overnight. The airplane was not refueled during the layover, and departed the next day. Approaching the destination airport, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to enter the traffic pattern, and while on the downwind leg, realizing that he would not be able to land on a runway, the pilot performed a forced landing to a wooded area. After the accident, the pilot stated to the airplane's owner that he was concerned about running out of fuel, and that the engine had quit on downwind. Examination of the wreckage revealed that both wing fuel tanks were ruptured, and no fuel was observed in either the fuel tanks or lines. According to the airplane's Information Manual, the total fuel capacity of the airplane was 84 gallons, 82 of which were usable. Review of a Lycoming O-540-B series engine operator's manual revealed that the fuel burn, at a power setting of 70 percent, at a pressure altitude of 6,000 feet, and a full rich mixture setting, was about 15 gallons per hour.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,418 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 366 in the last 90 days; 138 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 8, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 2001; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLZ Delaware OH at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 40N Coatesville
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LNS, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N31SW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.