# Accident 20210322003369A: Piper PA-30, Wanatah, IN, March 22, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 22, 2021, 12:30 local time
- Place: Wanatah, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.4514° N, 86.9330° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4514&lon=-86.9330&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7588Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7588Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,250 total, 7 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA171) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210322003369A

## Narrative

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

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).

## 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 CEN21LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA171), Mar 22, 2021: Piper PA-30 (N7588Y), Wanatah, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ fuel mismanagement, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power to both engines.

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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