# NTSB CEN10CA548: Piper PA-17, N4610H, Edwardsburg, MI, September 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 19, 2010, 16:46 local (20:46 UTC) - Place: Edwardsburg, MI - Coordinates: 41.835834, -86.224998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8358&lon=-86.2250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77343 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA548 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77343/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77343 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA548 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane's fuel gauge indicated that the fuel tanks were about half full during his preflight inspection. He conducted a 45-minute flight and landed. During takeoff on the second flight, the airplane reached about 150 feet of altitude when the engine started to sputter and subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The pilot initiated a return to the private airstrip and during the turn the airplane stalled. The airplane impacted the ground in a left-wing-low attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in the tanks. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the fuel gauge indicated about 1/2 tank during his preflight. He took a passenger for a 45-minute flight and landed. He reported that during the takeoff on the second flight, the airplane reached about 150 feet of altitude when the engine started to sputter and then quit. He started to turn back to the private airstrip, but the airplane started to stall to the left. He applied full right rudder and aileron. The airplane hit the ground in about a 30 degrees left wing low attitude which caused substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The inspection of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in the tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4610H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4610H), registered now, S/N 17-27, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-17 - Registry model: [Piper PA-17](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-17) (registry code 7101702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17-27 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65-A 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald S. Duck - Registered owner: Donald E. Duck - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2009 - Departed: Edwardsburg, MI - Destination: Edwardsburg, MI - Airport: Private Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 264 total, 175 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100919044959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100919044959A), Sep 19, 2010: Piper PA-17, Edwardsburg, MI, Substantial damage. PIC stated that he never visually check fuel level before starting aircraft engine and taking off to fly. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77343. 828 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 805 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Fuel Gauge (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Fuel%20Gauge-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- 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.