
Law enforcement reported the Piper PA-28-161 overflew a tractor-trailer, landed on an interstate highway near Grain Valley, Missouri, and hit a guardrail.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, while the student pilot sustained minor injuries.
The student pilot reported to law enforcement that the airplane ran out of fuel.
The student pilot was arrested at the scene of the accident for driving while intoxicated and operating an aircraft while intoxicated.
The student pilot refused to provide a statement of the accident.
Probable Cause: The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This July 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I think it is seems a bit unusual to have a student pilot with 290 hours.
This guy’s multiple problems and illegal activities finally caught up to him.
Hopefully this guy will be walking…after a long jail sentence.?
Some of these incidents just don’t warrant any additional comments ….
Although I’m sure someone will.
I will. I hope this results in permanent revocation of his pilot’s license. He’s a menace to society and himself.
I am not sure that will stop someone who has no interest in obeying the rules.
Anyone can buy an aircraft and attempt to fly it , with or without any instruction, or any pilot certificate.
The same is true of cars. a person can own a car and drive it without any license, or insurance.
But, since the roads are finite and patrolled, a driver is more likely to be stopped, vs operating an aircraft where there is no ‘policing’ of the air. !
Yes, you’re right, he’s a public menace. The pilot is 35, immature and never will be.
He doesn’t have a pilot certificate, and I’ll bet that after 290 hours as a student pilot, he doesn’t have a 90 day endorsement either, and probably an expired medical, if he ever had one.
And a night crosscountry, solo is not allowed.
But, it looks like he owned the aircraft, so no one could stop him from flying it.
“And a night crosscountry, solo is not allowed.”
Yes, they are.
Assuming a student pilot has the appropriate training and CFI endorsements (See 14 CFR 61-87 and AC 61-65H) for solo night flight and cross country flight…
There is no regulatory restriction that prohibits “solo night cross country”.
I see that. Thanks. no reg against a student,night x/c solo flight.
I also noted in 61.93 [b] 1 and 2, the solo x/c is limited to 50 nm from the flight origin airport.
4+ hours of flight is way more than 50nm…
oops, but then I noted 61.109 3[i] and 5 [ii] 100 nm and 150 nm solo x/c .
No mention of a night limitation.