20210322003369A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-30 · Wanatah, IN · March 22, 2021

Date: March 22, 2021 · 12:30 local
Place: Wanatah, IN
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7588Y
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN21LA171
Reported as: Piper PA-30
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,250 total7 in this make and model70 in the last 90 days

N7588YRegistered now · Piper PA-30S/N 30-655 · Built 1964 Airframe modelPiper PA-30 Engine modelLycoming IO-320 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 was flying approaches with a safety pilot to build time. In cruise at 9,000', left engine began sputtering. Pilot turned toward the porter co. airport (vpz). He was straight in for runway 27 at 2,600'. He feathered the left engine. After about a minute, the right engine began sputtering. Pilot restarted left engine. He didn't think he could make the airport, so he picked a field and set up a landing. He shut down both engines, left the gear up and landed to the south (into the wind).

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS FLYING APPROACHES WITH A SAFETY PILOT TO BUILD TIME. IN CRUISE AT 9,000', LEFT ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING. PILOT TURNED TOWARD THE PORTER CO. AIRPORT (VPZ). HE WAS STRAIGHT IN FOR RUNWAY 27 AT 2,600'. HE FEATHERED THE LEFT ENGINE. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE, THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING. PILOT RESTARTED LEFT ENGINE. HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD MAKE THE AIRPORT, SO HE PICKED A FIELD AND SET UP A LANDING. HE SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGINES, LEFT THE GEAR UP AND LANDED TO THE SOUTH (INTO THE WIND).

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 CEN21LA171Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportWanatah, INThe pilots’ fuel mismanagement, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power to both engines.Mar 22, 2021 · Substantial damage