Event FTW96LA040

Factual narrative

On November 3, 1996, approximately 2030 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9504J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power after takeoff from Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Texas. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The rental airplane, owned by Charley Wilkerson, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The personal flight was en route to Sycamore Strip, Fort Worth, Texas. A flight plan was not filed and dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that, during the initial climb through 300 feet above ground level, the "stall warning indicator came on". One of the passengers "heard the engine "sputter," and the pilot "lowered the nose to regain airspeed." The pilot then, declared an emergency to the tower, made a right turn, and executed a forced landing to a grassy area on airport property. The pilot described the landing as "very hard." The flights originally departed from Sycamore Airstrip, at 1800, flew approximately 1 hour to Marietta, Oklahoma, and then flew approximately 1 hour to Meacham Field. The pilot reported that, the airplane "was full of fuel in both tanks" (18 gallons per tank), prior to departing Sycamore Airstrip. Additionally, the pilot reported that, he utilized the left fuel tank for the entire 2 hours of flight, and "forgot to change the fuel selector over to the right tank." According to the owner, the fuel consumption is "approximately 9 gallons per hour." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed structural damage to the right wing spar. The left main fuel tank was found to be empty and the right main fuel tank was full (18 gallons). No fuel was found in the carburetor or the fuel gascolator. According to the owner's records, the Hobbs meter reading was 1345.2 hours prior to the flight. The Hobbs meter reading was 1347.2 hours at the accident site. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF AT NIGHT, WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A GRASSY AREA ON AIRPORT PROPERTY. THE LANDING WAS HARD, WHICH RESULTED IN A DAMAGED WING SPAR. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD UTILIZED THE LEFT FUEL TANK FOR THE 2 HOURS OF FLIGHT, AND 'FORGOT TO CHANGE THE FUEL SELECTOR OVER TO THE RIGHT TANK.' ACCORDING TO THE OWNER, EACH FUEL TANK HAD A CAPACITY OF 18 GALLONS, AND FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS APPROXIMATELY 9 GALLONS PER HOUR. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS FULL. ADDITIONALLY, NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR OR GASCOLATOR. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S RECORDS, THE HOBBS METER READING WAS 1345.2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. THE HOBBS METER READING WAS 1347.2 HOURS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12