# Accident 20090323003849A: Piper PA28181, Firebaugh, CA, March 23, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 2009, 17:45 local time
- Place: Firebaugh, CA
- Airport: Firebaugh
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8597° N, 120.4644° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8597&lon=-120.4644&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1857H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1857H-2012-02-15) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 122 total, 19 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090323003849A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATES SHE PHYSICALLY CHECKED BOTH FUEL TANKS AS BEING TOPPED OFF FOR A NONSTOP FLIGHT FROM PALM SPRINGS, CA TO SANJOSE, CA.  SHE HAD BEEN SWITCHING TANKS TO MAINTAIN FUEL BALANCE.  SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD 30 MINUTES OF FUEL LEFT IN ONE OF THE TANKS AND WAS RUNNING ON THE FULLER TANK IN WHICH SHE ESTIMATED HAD 1 HR OF FUEL REMAINING.  WHEN OVER FIREBAUGH THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER SO SHE SWITCHED TO THE LESSER TANK AND STARTED LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND.  WHILE CIRCLING FIREBAUGH TO LAND THE SECOND TANK RAN DRY AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST APPROX 200' SHORT ON THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RUNWAY 30.  PILOT STATES SHE WAS OPERATING AT NORMAL CRUISE POWER WITH A LEANED MIXTURE.  BOTH TANKS WERE DRY AFTER 3 HRS AND 45 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME.

## 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 WPR09LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA164), Mar 24, 2009: Piper PA-28-181 (N1857H), Firebaugh, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning and monitoring.

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.

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