# Accident 20241003014679A: Piper PA-24-250, Moore Haven, FL, October 3, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2024, 13:39 local time
- Place: Moore Haven, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.8797° N, 81.1303° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8797&lon=-81.1303&mi=10
- Aircraft: N12RD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12RD) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 25,900 total, 84 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241003014679A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO FXE FROM CDK. AT 7000' FEET AFTER 1 HOUR 47 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, PILOT STATED AIRCRAFT ENGINE DROPPED TO BETWEEN 1000-1200 RPM WOULD NOT INCREASE RPM AND DECLARED AN EMEREGENCY AND PARTIAL POWER. AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE PERFORMED AND MIXTURE WAS INCREASED, BOOST PUMPS TURNED ON, FUEL SELECTORS CHECKED AND TURNED CARB HEAT ON. RPM ROSE TO 2000 BUT WITHIN 2 SECONDS FELL BACK TO 1000-1200 RPM. AFTER A MINUTE OF NO CHANGE IN ENGINE PERFORMANCE, EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR ENGINE FLOODING (FUEL) WAS PERFORMED WITH NO CHANGE. AIRCRAFT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SUGAR CANE FIELD OUTSIDE OF MOORE HAVEN, FL (26.8797 -81.1303) 10/3-2024 AT 15:09 EST.

INSPECTED THE FUEL TANKS OF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT STATED, WING AUX TIP TANKS WERE NEVER FILLED FOR THE FLIGHT AND HAD NO FUEL TO SUMP. CHECKED BOTH L/H AND R/H WING MAIN TANKS THAT HOLD A CAPACITY OF 30 GALLONS EACH (TCDS CONFIRMED). VISUALLY DID NOT SEE FUEL IN THE TANK(S) OR ODOR OF FUEL. CHECKED FUEL SELECTORS AND OBSERVED SELECTED TO LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN TANKS. NOTED ENGINE OIL STICK INDICATED 10 QUARTS PRESENT. AIRCRAFTS THREE BLADED PROP HAD ONE BLADE BENT AFT WITH NO ROTATION MARKS NOTED ON ANY BLADES. MAIN FUEL SUMP LOCATED AT BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE FOUND UNDAMAGED WITH NO FUEL PRESENT. NO VISUAL SIGNS OF LEAKING FUEL ON AIRCRAFT. SUSPECT AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL.

## 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 ERA25LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA006), Oct 3, 2024: Piper PA24 (N12RD), Moore Haven, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to initiate the cross country flight with an adequate fuel supply, resulting in a loss of engine power and forced landing 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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