# Accident 20030404014249A: Piper PA28181, Santa Maria, CA, April 4, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 2003, 18:27 local time
- Place: Santa Maria, CA
- Airport: Santa Maria Public
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8833° N, 120.4625° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8833&lon=-120.4625&mi=10
- Aircraft: N21175, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21175-2021-12-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28181
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 210 total, 150 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA127) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030404014249A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD FILLED THE TANKS UP AT NEEDLES (EED). HE DEPARTED EED AND FLEW TO FOX FIELD (WJF) WHERE HE LANDED, RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEF, PLANNED AND FILED AN IFR FLIGHT TO SAN LUIS OBISPO (SBP). HE STATED THAT HE HAD 3 1/2 HOURS OF FUEL AVAILABLE FOR THE FLIGHT FROM WJF TO PRB. THE DISTANCE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175 MILES AND WAS PLANNED TO BE APPROX. 1.8 HOURS. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD 1.7 HOURS OF FUEL LEFT FOR IFR RESERVE. THE PILOT DID NOT CHECK HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION DURING THE FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE WENT OVER THE INCIDENT DOZENS OF TIMES AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THE FUEL DRAINED TO EMPTY. HE STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE FUEL CAPS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM EED AND DIDN'T THINK THAT FUEL MAY HAVE SIPHONED FROM THE TANKS. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. HE STRUCK A FENCE AND THE SUPPORTING POSTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX03LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA127), Apr 5, 2003: Piper PA-28-181 (N21175), Santa Maria, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight, and a subsequent on-ground collision with a pole…

## Other reports on N21175 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20210407005369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210407005369A), Apr 7, 2021: Piper PA-28-181 (N21175), Schaumburg, IL, Substantial damage. When: 04/07/2021 15:18Z, the aircraft was then moved by personnel of the [privacy data omitted]operator/flight training provider before informing the FAA or…
- [Accident 19901025047069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901025047069A), Oct 25, 1990: Piper PA28181 (N21175), Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on final for destination. Ditched in lake near runway. Did not lean by EGT. Miscalculated fuel burn

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.