# Fuel - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Fluids/misc hardware](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0107) › [Fluids](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010710) › Fuel - NTSB code: 01071010 - Cases: 1696 - In the probable cause: 1631 - Fatal cases: 203 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 66 / 74 - 2009: 95 / 102 - 2010: 107 / 112 - 2011: 100 / 103 - 2012: 99 / 102 - 2013: 85 / 86 - 2014: 108 / 109 - 2015: 104 / 106 - 2016: 91 / 94 - 2017: 93 / 95 - 2018: 102 / 102 - 2019: 95 / 98 - 2020: 93 / 97 - 2021: 74 / 83 - 2022: 87 / 92 - 2023: 85 / 90 - 2024: 74 / 76 - 2025: 60 / 61 - 2026: 13 / 14 ## Defining events in these cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 615 cases - [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 390 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 292 cases - [Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193): 177 cases - [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 70 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 40 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 27 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 11 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 10 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 7 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 32 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 32 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 26 cases - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 24 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 22 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 20 cases - [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c): 16 cases - [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l): 16 cases - [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 15 cases - [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a): 15 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030) (Personnel issues): 660 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 306 cases - [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 292 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 226 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 112 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 92 cases - [Fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823) (Aircraft): 70 cases - [Fuel system, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800) (Aircraft): 69 cases - [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 67 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 60 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA323), Sep 1, 2026: Mooney M-20 (N3706N), Stanfield, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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 WPR26LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA268), Jul 18, 2026: Piper PA-18 (N7590K), Colusa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel planning and in-flight decision making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB CEN26LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA249), Jul 10, 2026: Cessna 150 (N3773J), Ellsworth, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete… - [NTSB CEN26LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA215), May 31, 2026: Eaa Acro Sport II (N23RA), Sheridan, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB CEN26LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA194), May 20, 2026: Lockwood AIR CAM (N32F), Hutchinson, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB CEN26LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA189), May 15, 2026: Mooney M20J (N201QM), Morris, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. - [NTSB ERA26LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA190), Apr 26, 2026: Piper PA-30 (N8432Y), Enterprise, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing into trees. - [NTSB WPR26LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA173), Apr 18, 2026: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer (N143AW), Salinas, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB ERA26LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA181), Apr 16, 2026: Aeroprakt Mfg SP Z O O A32 (N993CW), Lexington, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a forced landing to rough terrain. - [NTSB CEN26LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA165), Apr 14, 2026: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer (N495LP), Peyton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent forced landing to a field. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- 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.