# Accident 20130822022509A: Piper PA-38-112, Madera, CA, August 22, 2013 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 22, 2013, 12:30 local time - Place: Madera, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Descent - Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141) - Operator: CUES - Location: 36.9264° N, 120.0222° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9264&lon=-120.0222&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2578L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2578L-2016-07-14) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112 - Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 1,178 total, 915 in this make and model, 187 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA383) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130822022509A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON AUGUST 22, 2013, N2578L A PIPER TOMAHAWK, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE CREW RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A PART 141 FLIGHT SCHOOL TRAINING FLIGHT . THE FLIGHT WAS A COMMERCIAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM FRESNO YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KFAT) RETURNING TO KFAT VIA NAPA AIRPORT (KAPC) FOLLOWED BY A DIVERSION TO CONCORD AIRPORT (KCCR) AND THEN LIVERMORE AIRPORT (KLVK). ON DEPARTURE FROM KFAT THE FLIGHT BELIEVED THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FUELED TO 21 GAL. ON THE RETURN FLIGHT FROM LIVERMORE (KLVK) THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE ROUGHNESS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION FOLLOWED BY ENGINE STOPPAGE 22 MILES NORTH OF FRESNO. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND STARTED A GRADUAL MINIMUM RATE DECENT FROM 4500FT. AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED SEVERAL IN FLIGHT RESTART PROCEDURES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THESE PROCEDURES INCLUDED CARB HEAT-ON, FUEL SELECTOR-SWITCHED TANKS, AND FUEL PUMP-ON. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED THE INSTRUCTOR NOTED THAT HE HAD 5 GALLONS INDICATED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND LESS THAN 5 ON THE RIGHT. ACCORDING TO HIS STATEMENT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL ONBOARD TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO FRESNO, BECAUSE PRIOR TO LEAVING KCCR HE HAD VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 14 GALLONS LEFT. ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONLY THE UNUSABLE FUEL WAS STILL REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. ## 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 WPR13LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA383), Aug 22, 2013: Piper PA-38 (N2578L), Madera, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots' inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in the airplane departing with insufficient fuel to complete the planned flight, and their failure to recognize that discrepancy en route, which… ## Other reports on N2578L (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20110505010579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110505010579I), May 5, 2011: Piper PA-38-112 (N2578L), Hollister, CA, Substantial damage. In a statement from the pilot of N2578L, a Piper PA-38-112 was on landing roll at Hollister airport (cvh) when the engine shut off. The pilot attempted to… - [Accident 19910430014009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910430014009A), Apr 30, 1991: Piper PA38112 (N2578L), Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on flare for landing in strong crosswind. Landed in a crab angle. Left runway. Struck sign - [Incident 19870929064529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870929064529I), Sep 29, 1987: Piper PA38112 (N2578L), Grove City, PA, Minor damage. Solo student lost directional control on takeoff roll. Departed runway side and collapsed gear. 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.