# Incident 20241019014979I: Piper PA-28R-200, Gold Canyon, AZ, October 19, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 2024, 12:40 local time
- Place: Gold Canyon, AZ
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3639° N, 111.4230° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gold Canyon, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3639&lon=-111.4230&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9458N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9458N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 751 total, 106 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241019014979I

## Narrative

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

PIC RENTED AIRCRAFT AT FALCON FIELD WITH INTENT TO FLY TO SAN CARLOS. AIRCRAFT WAS PRE-FLIGHTED WITH TANKS FILLED TO “TABS” OR 17 GALLON A SIDE WITH 1 GALLON BEING UNUSABLE ON EACH SIDE. WHILE EN-ROUTE THE PIC DECIDED WEATHER WAS NOT GOOD FOR THE INTENDED DESTINATION. THE PIC DECIDED TO FLY AROUND PHOENIX METRO AREA COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND HEAD TO GILA BEND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TO DO APPROACHES AND USE THE RESTROOM. WHEN THE PIC SPOKE WITH CONTROLLER, THE PIC WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRPORT WAS CLOSED FOR A SPECIAL RACING EVENT. THE PIC THEN DECIDED TO FLY TO RYAN AIRFIELD AT THAT POINT. AFTER ARRIVING AND TAKING A BREAK, THE PIC BEGAN THE FLIGHT BACK TO FALCON FIELD. NO ADDITIONAL FUEL WAS PUT IN AIRCRAFT. WHILE APPROXIMATELY OVER THE GOLD CANYON AREA, THE PIC REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING.  PIC DID NOT SWITCH ON THE BOOST PUMPS. PIC STATED THAT HE JUST SWITCHED TANKS 10 MINUTES PRIOR, SO HE DID NOT TRY THAT EITHER. THE PIC DID TRY CHANGING THROTTLE, MIXTURE AND SWITCHING MAGS AS SUGGESTED BY NEARBY PILOTS THAT HEARD THE MAYDAY. NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN POWER, THE PIC ELECTED TO PERFORM AN OFF-AIRPORT GEAR UP LANDING ON A ROAD NEXT TO HIGHWAY 60.

A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING THAT WOULD ATTRIBUTE TO THE POWER LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO BE RUN DUE TO PROP DAMAGE. THE COMPANY THAT RECOVERED THE AIRCRAFT STATED THAT THEY DRAINED 0 GALLONS FROM THE RIGHT TANK AND APPROXIMATELY 7 GALLONS FROM THE LEFT TANK PRIOR TO REMOVING THE WINGS. FUEL SELECTOR WAS REMOVED BY RECOVERY TEAM, SO THE POSITION WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FACTUALLY DETERMINED. PIC STATED HE BELIEVED THE LEFT TANK WAS SELECTED. THIS INSPECTOR VALIDATED THAT GILA MUNICIPAL HAD AN ACTIVE NOTAM FOR BEING CLOSED. ALSO VALIDATED THAT NO FUEL WAS PURCHASED THAT DAY FOR THE AIRCRAFT AT FALCON FIELD OR RYAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. FLIGHT AWARE SHOWS THE 2 FLIGHTS BEING APPROXIMATELY 2.5 HOURS. PILOT STATED FLIGHT TIME BASED ON HOBBS METER WAS 2.9 HOURS. THE PIC STATED HE BELIEVED HE SHOULD HAVE HAD 3.5 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME WITH FUEL ON BOARD. BASED ON AIRCRAFT AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION.  THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS FUEL STARVATION.

BASED ON THE PIC’S PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING WHILE INFLIGHT, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO OFFER REMEDIAL TRAINING TO THE PIC. PIC HAS ELECTED TO ACCEPT THIS OFFER.

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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