20030823020309A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-180 · Nampa, ID · August 23, 2003

Date: August 23, 2003 · 10:50 local
Place: Nampa, ID
Airport: Nampa Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N33170
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA03LA177
Reported as: Piper PA28180
Reported engine: Lycoming O360*
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 175 total40 in this make and model45 in the last 90 days

N33170Registered now · Piper PA-28-180S/N 28-7505129 · Built 1975 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot operated the aircraft from bountiful, Utah to the accident site 500 yards short of the Nampa airport runway. According to the aircraft hobbs meter it took 2.9 hours to make the flight. The pilot stated that he had the fuel tanks filled to the tabs located inside the tank which gave him a measured 17 gallons per side, or 34 gallons total fuel. He figured the fuel consumption would be 12 gallons per hour and he planned on a 3 hour flight. Pilot admitted that he passed near at least 5 airports that had fuel available. Just short of destination, Nampa, the engine quit. The pilot managed to get it restarted by switching to the opposite tank but the engine ran for only seconds before it quit again. Post accident inspection revealed about a pint of fuel remained in the fuel system.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT FROM BOUNTIFUL, UTAH TO THE ACCIDENT SITE 500 YARDS SHORT OF THE NAMPA AIRPORT RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT HOBBS METER IT TOOK 2.9 HOURS TO MAKE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD THE FUEL TANKS FILLED TO THE TABS LOCATED INSIDE THE TANK WHICH GAVE HIM A MEASURED 17 GALLONS PER SIDE, OR 34 GALLONS TOTAL FUEL. HE FIGURED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WOULD BE 12 GALLONS PER HOUR AND HE PLANNED ON A 3 HOUR FLIGHT. PILOT ADMITTED THAT HE PASSED NEAR AT LEAST 5 AIRPORTS THAT HAD FUEL AVAILABLE. JUST SHORT OF DESTINATION, NAMPA, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MANAGED TO GET IT RESTARTED BY SWITCHING TO THE OPPOSITE TANK BUT THE ENGINE RAN FOR ONLY SECONDS BEFORE IT QUIT AGAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED ABOUT A PINT OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA03LA177Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNampa, IDThe pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. A factor was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.Aug 23, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N33170 · 1

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

Accident 20021018028649AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Salt Lake City, UT(-23) During a flight from mesquite, NV. To bountiful skypark, UT. N33170 experienced loss of power. The pilot requested an immediate landing at Salt Lake City International Airport, runway 35. While maneuvering to land it became apparent that the aircraft…Oct 18, 2002 · Substantial damage