# Accident 20160326002629A: Piper PA-24-250, Kentland, IN, March 26, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 26, 2016, 14:00 local time
- Place: Kentland, IN
- Airport: Kentland
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.7589° N, 87.4378° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7589&lon=-87.4378&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8154P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8154P-2018-05-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,100 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160326002629A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER ON FINAL APPROACH. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE PILOT HAD USED THE RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK AND DEPLETED THE TANK OF FUEL, CAUSING THE LOSS IN ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED APPROXIMATELY TEN TO FIFTEEN FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND IMPACTED THE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM THE IMPACT.

THE PILOT IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE GENERAL AVIATION COMMUNITY AND IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN AVIATION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. THE PILOT ALSO WORKS WITH THE FAA SAFETY TEAM AND OCCASIONALLY SPEAKS AT AVIATION SEMINARS AND SIMILAR EVENTS. THE PILOT ACTIVELY IDENTIFIED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES AND HAS EXPRESSED REGRET FOR FAILING TO FOLLOW THE PROPER PROCEDURES IN FUEL MANAGEMENT. THE PILOT ALSO DISCUSSED THE DANGERS OF COMPLACENCY IN AVIATION WITH REGARDS TO FUEL MANAGEMENT AND ABNORMAL SITUATIONS. THROUGH CONVERSATION WITH THE PILOT, IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE INVESTIGATING INSPECTORS THAT THE AIRMAN, AND THE AVIATION COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE AIRMAN IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED, WOULD BENEFIT MOST FROM AIRMAN COUNSELING. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING CHECKLISTS AND THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR FUEL MANAGEMENT. THE PILOT WAS ALSO COUNSELED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ?STICKING TO? THE PROPER PROCEDURES EVEN WHEN DISTRACTED OR WHEN ABNORMAL SITUATIONS EXIST. THE PILOT ALSO DISCUSSED USING THIS ACCIDENT AND ITS ROOT CAUSE AS AN EXAMPLE IN AVIATION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO HELP INSTILL THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE PROPER PROCEDURES AND TO OVERCOME COMPLACENCY.

SEE THE RELATED PTRS GL03201604278 FOR THE RECORD OF COUNSELING.

## 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 CEN16LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA132), Mar 26, 2016: Piper PA24 (N8154P), Kentland, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal…

## Other reports on N8154P (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19860720057029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860720057029I), Jul 20, 1986: Piper PA24250 (N8154P), Detroit, MI. Instructed to remain clear of tca. Identified 2 miles from airport of intended landing without a clearance.
- [Accident 19770626019889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770626019889A), Jun 26, 1977: Piper PA24250 (N8154P), Elmira, NY, Substantial damage

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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