# NTSB investigations: Lycoming 0-540 series: Fuel exhaustion

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 CEN26LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA073.md): Rockwell International 114 · Stroud, OK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 13, 2025 · N5879N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB WPR25LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA217.md): Cessna TR182 · Tuba City, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Jul 17, 2025 · N182KC · Substantial damage
  > On July 17, 2025, about 1447 mountain standard time, a Cessna TR182, N182KC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tuba City, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…
- [NTSB ERA25LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA006.md): Piper PA24 · Moore Haven, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 3, 2024 · N12RD · Substantial damage
  > 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.
- [NTSB CEN24LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA370.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Muskogee, OK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 26, 2024 · N6548Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inattention to refueling during turn-around operations which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN24LA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA345.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Grand Island, NE · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 7, 2024 · N704VP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning/preparation that resulted in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, a total loss of engine power, and an impact with terrain during a forced landing.
- [NTSB ERA23LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA054.md): Piper PA-28 · Tanner, AL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 2, 2022 · N8667W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate inflight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN22LA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA384.md): Piper PA-24-250 · Kearney, NE · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 12, 2022 · N5253P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate in-flight planning that resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN22FA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA298.md): Piper PA-24-250 · St. Jacob, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 2, 2022 · N5235P · Destroyed
  > The inadequate maintenance of the airplane fuel system that resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN21LA461](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA461.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Hancock, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 29, 2021 · N130GH · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power as a result of fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly manage the fuel on board the airplane and his failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection.
- [NTSB CEN21LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA010.md): Cessna TR182 · Bridgeport, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 4, 2020 · N5196S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which led to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN20LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA370.md): Piper PA24 · Bryan, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 30, 2020 · N7469P · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power on takeoff due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB GAA19CA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA053.md): Piper PA24 · Texico, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 5, 2018 · N3214P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB GAA18CA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA184.md): Piper PA32 · Camas, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 4, 2018 · N3756W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate inflight fuel management and his failure to switch to a fuel tank with adequate fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation.
- [NTSB CEN18LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA075.md): Piper PA 28-236 · Tishomingo, OK · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 13, 2018 · N4345K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel monitoring and his decision to take off with an unverified amount of fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent impact with trees during an attempted forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN17LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA356.md): Cessna R182 · Worland, WY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 12, 2017 · N1835R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to operate an airplane with unreliable fuel gauges and the worn fuel cap seal that allowed fuel to siphon from the left wing fuel tank, which ultimately resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB GAA16CA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA277.md): Piper PA 24 · Loda, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 4, 2016 · N5376P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to properly calculate the fuel consumption rate and to properly monitor the fuel status in flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing, runway excursion, and impact with a…
- [NTSB ERA15CA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA272.md): Smith Steen Skybolt · Junction City, KY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 18, 2015 · N31CS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inaccurate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN15LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA064.md): Piper PA 24-250 · Berrien Springs, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 28, 2014 · N5897P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN15CA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA001.md): Piper PA 25-235 · Yankton, SD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 1, 2014 · N6659Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN14CA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA344.md): Piper PA 25-235 · Rhinelander, WI · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 3, 2014 · N8730L · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper inflight planning and reliance of fuel gauge readings, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN14CA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA227.md): Piper PA 24-250 · New Braunfels, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 2, 2014 · N7308P · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and inflight decision making.
- [NTSB CEN14CA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA124.md): Cessna R182 · Mt. Morris, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 25, 2014 · N6359T · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and decision-making.
- [NTSB ERA13LA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA408.md): Piper PA-24-250 · Woodstock, CT · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 8, 2013 · N7333P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA12LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA180.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Amory, MS · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 2012 · N3688W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning and decision-making, including his inadequate weather evaluation and his delayed diversion to a closer airport, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB WPR10CA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA348.md): Piper PA-28-236 · Moreno Valley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 26, 2010 · N8118A · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB WPR09CA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA315.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Preston, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 27, 2009 · N8600L · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion that resulted from the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.
- [NTSB CEN09CA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA245.md): Cessna R182 · Granger, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 11, 2009 · N756BZ · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to visually verify that sufficient fuel was on board prior to flight.
- [NTSB SEA08CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA152.md): Piper PA-24-250 · Vernal, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 18, 2008 · N6235P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to verify the airplane's fuel quantity during his preflight, resulting in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the presence of a vehicle on the road where the pilot executed his forced landing.
- [NTSB NYC08CA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA192.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Millinocket, ME · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 24, 2008 · N4823S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to properly monitor fuel consumption during the flight.

## 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.engine_model_code IN ('41532')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '192'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/cases?engine=41532

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OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
