# Accident 20120801017479A: Piper PA-22-160, Mckinleyville, CA, August 1, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2012, 18:55 local time
- Place: Mckinleyville, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9528° N, 124.0933° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9528&lon=-124.0933&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3442Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3442Z-2012-11-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-160 (registry code 7102214, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 149 total, 4 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12CA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA340) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120801017479A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^LEFT CHICO AIRPORT ON 08/01/2012. PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT HE FILLED BOTH 13 GALLON FUEL TANKS IN CHICO. HE LEFT CHICO AT 0530 FLEW FOR 1.4 HOURS ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK ONLY. WHERE AT 6 MILES FROM ARCATA AIRPORT AND AT 1000 FEET ALTITUDE, THE LEFT ENGINE RAN DRY AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PERFORMED AN OFF-FIELD LANDING IN A GRASSY FIELD WHICH SUBSTANTIALY DAMAGED THE LANDING GEAR, ENGINE MOUNT, FIREWALL, AND LEFT WING. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^SUFFERED A SPRAINED ANKLE  AND A BUMP ON THE FOREHEAD. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION PROVED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE FUEL FELECTOR WAS IN THE LEFT POSITION.

## 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 WPR12CA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA340), Aug 2, 2012: Piper PA-22-160 (N3442Z), McKinleyville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s lack of experience in the accident airplane make…

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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