# NTSB investigations: Piper PA-32-260: Fuel starvation

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR25LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA131.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Green Valley, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 13, 2025 · N3797W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA24LA380](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA380.md): Piper PA32 · Baltimore, MD · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 14, 2024 · N6FT · Substantial damage
  > The undetected worn internal parts of the on-condition carburetor, which restricted movement of the float, resulting in fuel starvation. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the pilot’s delayed reduction of the throttle when performing a forced…
- [NTSB ERA24LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA054.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Millington, TN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 4, 2023 · N7748J · Substantial damage
  > The pilots’ fuel mismanagement during the cross-country flight and incorrect fuel tank selection for the landing approach, which resulted in fuel starvation, a momentary loss of engine power, and collision with terrain short of the runway.
- [NTSB ERA21LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA344.md): Piper PA32 · Spartanburg, SC · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 28, 2021 · N3862W · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN21LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA261.md): Piper PA32 · Lafayette, CO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 11, 2021 · N3793W · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew’s improper fuel management that resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN21LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA247.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Flint, MI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 29, 2021 · N3992W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor his fuel quantity during flight which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA20LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA057.md): Piper PA32 · Florida, MA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 20, 2019 · N4726S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s fuel mismanagement during flight, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing in a remote, wooded terrain.
- [NTSB CEN20LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA018.md): Piper PA32 · Houston, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 9, 2019 · N7703J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to select the proper fuel tank before departure, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN09LA605](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA605.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Troy, MI · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 25, 2009 · N4864S · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's selection of an empty or nearly empty main tank for takeoff.
- [NTSB NYC08LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA299.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Cumberland, RI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 1, 2008 · N5529J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel management practices, which resulted in fuel starvation and a complete power loss. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's misdiagnosis of the situation, and his cessation of trouble-shooting to positively identify and correct…

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7103206')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '191' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence?model=7103206

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