# Accident 20150516006609A: Piper PA-28-140, Santee, CA, May 16, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2015, 10:20 local time
- Place: Santee, CA
- Airport: Gillespie Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8314° N, 116.9825° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8314&lon=-116.9825&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7099R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7099R-2022-01-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (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-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 210 total, 150 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150516006609A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT N7099R, A PIPER PA-28 WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT WITH PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD FROM TUCSON TO MONTGOMERY FIELD (MYF). WHEN PASSING NORTH OF GILLESPIE FIELD (SEE), THE PILOT EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS AND LANDED ON PROSPECT AVE, A CROWDED URBAN STREET TO THE NORTH OF GILLESPIE FIELD.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A VEHICLE AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION ZONE SIGNS AND CONES, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND LANDING GEAR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS OR PERSONS ON THE GROUND.  THERE WAS NO USABLE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND APPROXIMATELY 6 GALLONS IN THE LEFT. ON SCENE THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS OBSERVED ON THE LEFT TANK.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHANGED TANKS EVERY 30 MINUTES, AND THAT THE FINAL CHANGE WAS FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK SOMEWHERE OVER THE MOUNTAINS COMING INTO SAN DIEGO FROM THE EAST. HE STATES THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR REMAINED ON THE LEFT TANK THROUGHOUT THE EVENT AND THAT HE CONFIRMED IT WAS POSITIVELY IN THE DETENT AFTER EXPERIENCING ENGINE TROUBLE.

AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM AND A RUN-UP WERE PERFORMED. THE INSPECTION FOUND NO ABNORMAL DISCREPANCIES IN THE FUEL OR ENGINE SYSTEM. IT WAS NOTED THAT DURING THE RUN-UPS THAT IF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS ACTIVATED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AND 39 SECONDS.  ONCE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO QUIT WITH AIR IN THE FUEL LINES, SELECTING A GOOD TANK WOULD NOT KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING.

## 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 WPR15LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA164), May 16, 2015: Piper PA28 - 140 (N7099R), El Cajon, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion in the selected tank, and his delayed movement of the fuel selector handle to the other tank, which resulted in a…

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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