# Accident 20220812014499A: Piper PA-24-250, Kearney, NE, August 12, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 12, 2022, 15:57 local time
- Place: Kearney, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.6993° N, 99.0817° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6993&lon=-99.0817&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5253P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5253P) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 681 total, 119 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA384) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220812014499A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 12, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1557 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A PIPER PA-24-250 AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A GRAVEL ROAD APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES NORTH OF THE KEARNEY REGIONAL AIRPORT (KEAR) KEARNEY, NE.

THE PILOT REPORTED THE FLIGHT WAS PLANNED TO ORIGINATE FROM COZAD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KCZD) COZAD, NE. WITH A FINAL DESTINATION OF KEARNEY REGIONAL AIRPORT (KEAR). THE TRIP WAS PLANNED AS A DIRECT FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION.

A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED FROM FOREFLIGHT, AND THE PILOT REPORTED THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 1/4 ON THE LEFT AND 1/8 ON THE RIGHT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. APPROXIMATLEY 10 NM FROM KEAR THE PILOT REPORTED ON UNICOM AIRCRAFT POSITION, AND WOULD ENTER A RIGHT BASE FOR RUNWAY 18. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT THEN TURNED ON THE FUEL PUMP, SWITCHED TANKS, AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNSUCESSFUL.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRIMMED FOR 65 KNOTS AND A GRAVEL ROAD WAS SELECTED FOR LANDING. DUE TO POWER LINES NEAR THE TOUCHDOWN AREA THE PILOT ELECTED NOT TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR UNTIL THE POWER LINES WERE CLEARED. THE AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR WAS NOT FULLY EXTENDED UPON TOUCHDOWN, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, ENGINE COWLING, AND PROPELLER.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A FINAL REST ON A GRAVEL ROAD. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY OR ASSISTANCE.

## 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 CEN22LA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA384), Aug 12, 2022: Piper PA-24-250 (N5253P), Kearney, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate in-flight planning that resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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