20150802011549A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-181 · Power Co, ID · August 2, 2015

Date: August 2, 2015 · 19:10 local
Place: Power Co, ID
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7963C
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR15LA237
Reported as: Piper PA-28-181
Reported engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Private pilot, unknown or foreign certificate
Pilot’s flight hours: 92 total26 in this make and model29 in the last 90 days

N7963CRegistration cancelled May 31, 2018 · Piper PA-28-181S/N 28-7690093 · Built 1975 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-181 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot departed lincoln, CA for yellowstone with full fuel. He originally planned on Idaho falls for a fuel stop, but determined that pocatello would be okay giving him 45 minutes reserve. Near pocatello, the right fuel indicator was at 0 and the left was at 5 gal. When the engine stopped he claims there was still 2.5 gallons. Aircraft recovery persons found no fuel in the tanks, and the tanks were not breached due to the accident.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DEPARTED LINCOLN, CA FOR YELLOWSTONE WITH FULL FUEL. HE ORIGINALLY PLANNED ON IDAHO FALLS FOR A FUEL STOP, BUT DETERMINED THAT POCATELLO WOULD BE OKAY GIVING HIM 45 MINUTES RESERVE. NEAR POCATELLO, THE RIGHT FUEL INDICATOR WAS AT 0 AND THE LEFT WAS AT 5 GAL. WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED HE CLAIMS THERE WAS STILL 2.5 GALLONS. AIRCRAFT RECOVERY PERSONS FOUND NO FUEL IN THE TANKS, AND THE TANKS WERE NOT BREACHED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR15LA237Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAmerican Falls, IDThe low flight time pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a loss of engine power, and an off-airport landing in rough terrain.Aug 3, 2015 · Substantial damage