Accident Piper PA-34-200 N1063U, Friday 7 January 1994

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Date:	Friday 7 January 1994
Time:	15:30 LT
Type:	Piper PA-34-200
Owner/operator:	Air Ryer, Inc
Registration:	N1063U
MSN:	34-7250049
Year of manufacture:	1971
Total airframe hrs:	5050 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Vacherie, LA - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Lafayette, LA (KLFT)
Destination airport:	New Orleans, LA (MSY
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION IN BOTH ENGINES 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE NEW ORLEANS VORTAC (MSY). THE PILOT ALIGNED THE AIRPLANE WITH A ROAD. WHEN HE DETERMINED HE WAS LANDING DOWN WIND AND THE ROAD WAS COMING TO AN END, HE TURNED TOWARDS AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AND CAME TO REST IN A CANAL. THE PILOT HAD MADE MULTIPLE STOPS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE REFUELED AT ANY OF THE STOPS.

Probable Cause: WAS FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Accident investigation: