# NTSB investigations: Fuel contamination 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. Page 1 of 5 · 225 cases ## Latest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA084.md): Cessna 172 · Taylor, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 26, 2025 · N172BX · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in a loss of engine power due to water contamination. - [NTSB ERA25LA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA324.md): Cessna 172 · New Smyrna Beach, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 29, 2025 · N1607F · Substantial damage > Maintenance personnel’s failure to detect and address water contamination of the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb. - [NTSB ERA25LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA315.md): Patriot CX1900A · Centreville, AL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 20, 2025 · N150SP · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to detect and remove water contamination from the airplane’s fuel system before the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb. - [NTSB CEN25LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA101.md): Cessna 177A · Farlinville, KS · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 20, 2025 · N30413 · Substantial damage > A loss of engine power that resulted from fuel contamination when it was treated with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution (antiseptic) that contained water. Contributing to the accident were vague fuel treatment instructions provided by the operator. - [NTSB WPR25LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA004.md): Cessna 172L · El Monte, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 7, 2024 · N7869G · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel. - [NTSB ANC24FA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA102.md): Cessna 206 · Chalkyitsik, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 24, 2024 · N8255Q · Substantial damage > A loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to ensure replacement filters were available for use during refueling operations. - [NTSB CEN24LA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA316.md): Cessna A185E · Eveleth, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 14, 2024 · N2248T · Substantial damage > Water contamination of the fuel system which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight. - [NTSB CEN24LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA291.md): Ayres S2R-G6 · Antioch, NE · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2024 · N6136Z · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from an undetermined source. - [NTSB ERA24FA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA308.md): Beech B-60 · Vienna Center, OH · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 19, 2024 · N23553 · Destroyed > The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a single-engine go-around. Also contributing to the accident was fuel system contamination, which resulted in detonation and a total loss of left engine power. - [NTSB ERA24LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA257.md): Piper PA28 · Zephyrhills, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 8, 2024 · N15363 · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel contamination that resulted from corrosion and loose corrosion debris in the carburetor, which restricted fuel flow to the engine. - [NTSB WPR24LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA174.md): Beech 35-C33A · San Diego, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 1, 2024 · N1259M · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system. - [NTSB CEN24LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA184.md): Piper PA-22 · Enderlin, ND · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 13, 2024 · N669A · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to properly inspect and sump the fuel system before the flight and the maintenance personnel’s inadequate maintenance of the fuel system which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power due to the contamination of… - [NTSB ERA24LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA179.md): Cessna R172 · Rocky Mount, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 15, 2024 · N3FR · Substantial damage > The pilot and mechanic’s failure to identify and completely eliminate the water and debris contamination present in the airplane’s fuel system before embarking on the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. - [NTSB WPR24LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA106.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Whitethorn, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 8, 2024 · N2824M · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel. - [NTSB ERA24FA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA103.md): Grumman American Avn. GA-7 · Coatesville, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 1, 2024 · N887CC · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel, and his subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate annual maintenance inspection, during which maintenance… - [NTSB WPR24FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA056.md): Vans RV8 · Corona, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 16, 2023 · N6948L · Substantial damage > Fuel contamination from the pilot’s improper application of a sealant to the fuel tank, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power on takeoff. - [NTSB ERA24LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA022.md): Mooney M20E · Pembroke Pines, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 26, 2023 · N1953Y · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. - [NTSB WPR23LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA349.md): Cessna 172N · Compton, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 20, 2023 · N733ZN · Substantial damage > The total loss of engine power on takeoff due to water-contaminated fuel. Contributing to the accident was the inadequately maintained fuel system, which resulted in water entering the fuel tanks through the filler caps. - [NTSB WPR23LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA297.md): Bell OH-58A · Blanchard, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2023 · N613SS · Substantial damage > Fuel contamination, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The source of the contamination could not be determined. - [NTSB WPR23LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA263.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Marble Falls, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 9, 2023 · N163RK · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from an unknown source. - [NTSB ERA23LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA290.md): Piper PA-28-235 · Clearwater, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 5, 2023 · N8579W · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper preflight inspection which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (water). - [NTSB WPR23LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA220.md): Piper PA-30 · Nephi, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 8, 2023 · N7318Y · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination as a result of the inadequate removal of fuel system corrosion during previous maintenance. - [NTSB WPR23LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA183.md): Aero Vodochody L-39ZA · Barnhart, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 2, 2023 · N343WT · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel from an undetermined source. - [NTSB WPR23LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA167.md): Gates Learjet 35A · Page, AZ · Occurrence · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 24, 2023 · N135SH · No damage > The fueler’s inadvertent addition of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to the FSII reservoir on the fuel truck, and its subsequent mixture with the JET A that was used to fuel the airplane, resulting in a total loss of power to the right engine and a partial loss of… - [NTSB CEN23LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA153.md): Ryan Navion A · New Waverly, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 12, 2023 · N4229K · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power as a result of fuel contamination. - [NTSB CEN23LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA147.md): Bell OH-58A · Wade, OK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 29, 2023 · N82851 · Substantial damage > The total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. - [NTSB ERA23FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA163.md): Larry F Preiss AR-1 · Gainesville, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 25, 2023 · N47AR · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to detect water-contaminated fuel that resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent impact with a wire and terrain during an attempted forced landing. - [NTSB ERA23LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA117.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Buford, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 24, 2023 · N7470R · Substantial damage > Water contamination in the fuel system that was not observed during the preflight inspection, resulting in a total loss of engine power and forced landing. - [NTSB ANC23LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA013.md): Taylorcraft BL-65 · Wasilla, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 14, 2023 · N29886 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to remove all water from the fuel tank, which resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent partial loss of engine power. - [NTSB ERA23LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA097.md): Piper PA24 · Athens, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 29, 2022 · N9026P · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to detect water in the fuel during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power. - [NTSB ERA23LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA005.md): Piper PA-30 · Milan, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 4, 2022 · N7494Y · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel contamination. - [NTSB ERA22FA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA351.md): Smith Aerostar 600 · South Haven Charter Township, MI · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 2, 2022 · N9784Q · Destroyed > A loss of power to the left engine due to contamination of the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ failure to properly configure the airplane for flight with one engine inoperative. - [NTSB ERA22LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA266.md): Grumman American Avn. AA-5 · Sarasota, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 13, 2022 · N9577L · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power on approach. - [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 WPR22LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA203.md): Czech Sport Aircraft A S Sportcruiser · Hillsboro, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 7, 2022 · N565L · Substantial damage > A missing fuel filler cap O-ring, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel. - [NTSB ERA22LA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA258.md): Taylorcraft BC12-D1 · Pittsboro, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 3, 2022 · N44374 · Substantial damage > The student pilot, and flight instructor’s, inadequate preflight inspection, during which they failed to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. - [NTSB CEN22LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA228.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Allport, AR · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 1, 2022 · N5007R · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from foreign object debris. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to follow the manufacturer’s required airframe fuel filter inspection interval. - [NTSB ERA22LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA194.md): Piper PA-28-140B · Panama City, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 18, 2022 · N8891N · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance and inspection of the airplane and engine by maintenance personnel, and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and runup. - [NTSB CEN22LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA128.md): Ryan L17 · Livingston, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 20, 2022 · N5042K · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to fuel injection system contamination from an unknown source. - [NTSB ERA22LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA130.md): Piper PA32R · Washington, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 16, 2022 · N114BR · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. - [NTSB CEN22LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA115.md): Piper PA-28R-201 · Olathe, KS · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 4, 2022 · N5145W · Substantial damage > The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB WPR22FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA022.md): Cessna 172 · Ukiah, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 28, 2021 · N1870V · Substantial damage > A power interruption due to water-contaminated fuel, which resulted in the student pilot aborting the takeoff and landing hard. Contributing to the accident were a leak in the left fuel tank that allowed water to enter and damage to the fuel tank that… - [NTSB WPR22LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA014.md): Avid Mark IV · Payette, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 13, 2021 · N583DM · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an outlet screen on the fuel system header tank. - [NTSB ERA22LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA002.md): Cessna 150 · Oxford, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 3, 2021 · N7333A · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. - [NTSB CEN21LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA219.md): Beech B24R · New Lenox, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 13, 2021 · N9199S · Substantial damage > The total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination as a result of the pilot’s improper fueling of the airplane. - [NTSB CEN21LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA206.md): Cessna 170B · Curtis, NE · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 19, 2021 · N2955D · Substantial damage > Water contamination of the airplane’s fuel supply which resulted in a total loss of engine power. - [NTSB ERA21LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA170.md): Mooney M20C · College Park, MD · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 3, 2021 · N2953L · Substantial damage > Improper maintenance of the airplane by its owners and their failure to have qualified maintenance personnel determine the root cause of water infiltration into the fuel system. Also causal was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to… - [NTSB ERA21LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA169.md): Cessna 150L · Hardwick Township, NJ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 30, 2021 · N6544G · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadequate prefight inspection, during which he failed to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. - [NTSB DCA21WA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21WA102.md): Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83 · Maiquetia, Venezuela · Incident · Class 5 · Foreign · Mar 18, 2021 · YV3445 · No damage - [NTSB ERA21LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA132.md): Cessna 150G · Indian Head, MD · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 17, 2021 · N8428J · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to detect water in the fuel during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the flight instructor’s mismanagement of the precautionary landing approach. Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?page=2 ## 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 s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '193' 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/193/sequence --- 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.