# Accident 20030823020309A: Piper PA28180, Nampa, ID, August 23, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 23, 2003, 10:50 local time
- Place: Nampa, ID
- Airport: Nampa Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.5781° N, 116.5197° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5781&lon=-116.5197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N33170, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33170) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (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 PA28180
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 175 total, 40 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030823020309A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 SEA03LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA177), Aug 23, 2003: Piper PA-28-180 (N33170), Nampa, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N33170 (1)

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

- [Accident 20021018028649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021018028649A), Oct 18, 2002: Piper PA28180 (N33170), Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. (-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…

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.