# Accident 20191202021999A: Piper PA-28-161, Vero Beach, FL, December 2, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 2, 2019, 12:37 local time
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: Vero Beach Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: ECPS
- Location: 27.6458° N, 80.4278° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6458&lon=-80.4278&mi=10
- Aircraft: N558PU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N558PU-2021-04-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (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-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 140 total, 140 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20TA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20TA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191202021999A

## Narrative

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

ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON 12/02/2019 AT ABOUT 12:30 LOCAL TIME, WHILE DESCENDING TO LAND AT THE VERO BEACH, FL AIRPORT, AFTER A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT OF ABOUT 2.5 TO 3 HOURS. WEATHER NOT BEING A FACTOR, WHILE ON DOWNWIND TO LAND, THE ENGINE STOPPED. UNABLE TO RESTART ENGINE AND UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO A RUNWAY, PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A GOLF COURSE NEARBY.

DURING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING, WHICH WAS TORN FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP UPRIGHT, AND PILOT EXITED WITHOUT INJURY.

EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY FULL AND THE LEFT WAS EMPTY WITH NO SIGN OF A FUEL LEAK AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. BOTH FUEL TANKS APPEARED TO BE INTACT. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED WITH THE INDUCTION SYSTEM.

LATER EXAMINATIONS DID NOT FIND A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OR ITS IGNITION SYSTEM AND A LITTLE OVER AN OUNCE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. WHEN SELECTED, FUEL FLOWED FROM THE RIGHT TANK THROUGH THE SELECTOR TO THE FUEL STRAINER.

DURING THE PILOT INTERVIEW, HE COULD NOT BE CERTAIN THAT HE HAD SWITCHED TANKS AS REQUIRED BY TRAINING AND CORRECT OPERATING PRACTICES FOR THIS AIRCRAFT.

THIS AIRCRAFT WOULD FLY ABOUT 2.5 TO 3 HOURS IF THE PILOT DOES NOT SWITCH TANKS IN FLIGHT.

THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT IS BELIEVED TO BE FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY THE PILOT'S INCORRECT OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM.

PILOT: ^ZHUANG QU^ (PRIVATE PILOT, ^4237888^)

AIRCRAFT: PA-28-161, N558PU

## 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 ERA20TA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20TA046), Dec 2, 2019: Piper PA28 (N558PU), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N558PU (1)

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

- [Incident 20080128010639I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080128010639I), Jan 28, 2008: Piper PA28161 (N558PU), Frankfort, IN, Minor damage. (-23) On 01/28/2008 at 1430 local time N588PU struck a runway light during a crosswind landing on runway 9 at Frankfort Indiana (kfkr). The pilot [privacy data…

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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