# NTSB investigations, NC: 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 ERA26LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA323.md): Mooney M-20 · Stanfield, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 1, 2026 · N3706N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to adequately manage the available fuel onboard the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing on uneven terrain.
- [NTSB ERA24LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA240.md): Aero Commander Callair A-9B · Zebulon, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 1, 2024 · N7650V · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power while maneuvering due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA23LA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA262.md): Burton Searey · Sherrills Ford, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 31, 2023 · N2440S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to configure the amphibious airplane’s landing gear before conducting a forced landing to a lake after a loss of engine power. Also causal was the occluded gascolator and the pilot’s lack of knowledge about the airplane’s fuel system,…
- [NTSB ERA23LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA009.md): Swensen Fisher Celebrity · Greensboro, NC · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 6, 2022 · N655WP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot/mechanic’s failure to remove excess sealant from the header fuel tank after recent maintenance, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine and a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inflight decision making…
- [NTSB ERA22LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA313.md): Whittridge Twinstarr · Indian Trail, NC · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 11, 2022 · N298RW · Substantial damage
  > A blockage of the fuel filter inlet by a piece of debris, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA075.md): Kolb Firestar · Durham, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 11, 2020 · N7094T · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as the result of a degraded fuel primer check valve.
- [NTSB ERA18FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA012.md): Beech 35C33 · Whiteville, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 31, 2017 · N293GC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and his delayed reaction to the loss of engine power, which led to impact with trees as he was attempting to switch fuel tanks.…
- [NTSB ERA17LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA215.md): Beech B23 · Ocean Isle Beach, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2017 · N4023T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector between the left and right fuel tank positions, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing into trees.
- [NTSB ERA17TA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17TA196.md): Ernest T Christley Zenith Zodiac 601XL · Sanford, NC · Accident · No injuries · Final report · May 29, 2017 · N167EZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s selection of a threaded metal rod of insufficient strength to connect the fuel tank selector handle to the fuel valve, which resulted in his inability to switch fuel tanks and a subsequent total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA16CA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA011.md): Piper PA-32RT-300T · Salisbury, NC · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 13, 2015 · N300KG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent switching of the fuel selector to the "off" position on final approach, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA15CA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA321.md): Quicksilver MXL II Sport · Pittsboro, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 15, 2015 · UNREG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to open the fuel shutoff valve during the preflight examination of the airplane which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA15FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA128.md): Piper PA28 · Greensboro, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 11, 2015 · N5985U · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power after takeoff due to fuel starvation as a result of excessive wear of the fuel selector valve. Also causal was the owner/operator and maintenance personnel's inadequate maintenance, and inadequate postmaintenance inspection.
- [NTSB ERA14CA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA349.md): Pekola James W Ridge Runner III · Andrews, NC · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 10, 2014 · N39ZT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to open the fuel tank valves during the preflight examination of the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA13LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA285.md): Beech A23 · Oxford, NC · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 13, 2013 · N3542R · Substantial damage
  > The failure to comply with an airworthiness directive by maintenance personnel and incorrect reinstallation of the fuel selector handle by unknown personnel, which resulted in fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA12CA371](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA371.md): Aero Works Aero Lite 103 · Lincolnton, NC · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 21, 2012 · N2355L · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to fuel flow interruption, which resulted from a stuck carburetor bowl needle.
- [NTSB ERA12LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA112.md): Piper PA-38-112 · Merry Hill, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 16, 2011 · N9279T · Substantial damage
  > Operation of the airplane by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while making a forced landing following a total loss of engine power at low altitude, which resulted in an…
- [NTSB ERA12FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA021.md): Elkind Bruce Cozy MK IV · Lexington, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 23, 2011 · N795DB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA11CA485](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA485.md): Haines Joseph E SHA-GLASAIR · Beaufort, NC · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 5, 2011 · N334JH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA11LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA359.md): Navion Navion B · Red Oak, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 23, 2011 · N75394 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent movement of the fuel tank selector handle to the off position, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA11FA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA285.md): Hebert Peter J Lancair Legacy · Richlands, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 6, 2011 · N23PH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA10LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA370.md): Piper PA-28R-200 · New Bern, NC · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 20, 2010 · N8900E · Substantial damage
  > Inadequate quality control at the fuel servo overhaul facility, which resulted in contamination of the fuel servo and a subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'NC' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE 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?state=NC

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