Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32RT-300 near Mount Gilead, OH — 2023-07-21

Final reportERA23LA306
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Date
2023-07-21
Location
Mount Gilead, OH, USA
Airport
4I9
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32RT-300
Registration
N9519C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management by not switching fuel tanks in flight, resulting in fuel starvation to the engine and a total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was about 30 minutes from his destination when the engine lost total power. He conducted the emergency procedures for an engine power loss, notified air traffic control, and looked for an opening in the clouds. He was unable to glide to a suitable airport, so he performed a forced landing into a soybean field with the landing gear retracted. The airplane came to rest in the field; however, substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing resulted. An examination of the wreckage after the accident did not reveal evidence of a malfunction or anomaly that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane and engine. The left wing fuel tank was dry when examined after the accident, and the right wing contained about 25 gallons of fuel. The pilot later reported that he exhausted the fuel supply from the left tank and failed to switch to the right tank after the loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot failed to switch to the right fuel tank after exhausting the left tank.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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