# NTSB CEN10CA550: Piper PA-28-140, N333NA, Carthage, TX, September 20, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 19, 2010, 20:45 local (Sep 20, 2010, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Carthage, TX - Coordinates: 32.176109, -94.298614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1761&lon=-94.2986&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77355 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA550 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77355/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77355 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA550 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight 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 · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102802), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he departed with about 47 gallons of fuel onboard for a 551-nautical mile cross-country flight. About 3 hours and 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot became concerned with the rate of fuel consumption. The pilot stated that he elected to change his destination to obtain fuel and shortly thereafter the left fuel tank was empty. The pilot then switched back to the right fuel tank and looked for a place to conduct an emergency landing. During the approach for a forced landing the engine changed from idle to full power for 10 to 15 seconds before experiencing a complete loss of power. The airplane’s nose dropped and impacted the roof of an unoccupied barn near vertically. During recovery of the airplane, no fuel was found on site or in the airplane’s fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he departed with about 47 gallons of fuel onboard for a 551-nautical mile cross-country flight. About 3-hours and 15-minutes into the flight, the pilot said he was concerned the way the right fuel tank gauge was moving down faster than he’d seen before. He added that, he told Air Traffic Control (ATC) that he needed to change his destination for fuel. Shortly thereafter, he stated that the left tank was out of fuel, so he switched back to the right fuel tank and looked for a place to conduct an emergency landing. During the approach for a forced landing, the engine changed from idle to full power for 10 to 15 seconds, before a complete loss of engine power. The airplane’s nose dropped sharply and the airplane impacted the roof of an unoccupied barn near vertically. During recovery of the airplane, no fuel was found on site or in the airplane’s fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333NA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333NA-2011-04-30), registration cancelled 2011-04-30, S/N 28-26714, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-26714 - Airframe hours: 3759 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2010 - Departed: KDTS, Destin, FL - Destination: KADS, Addison, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 518 total, 414 in this make and model, 471 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 180° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KSHV ## 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 20100919050169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100919050169A), Sep 19, 2010: Piper PA-28-140, Carthage, TX, Destroyed. On September 19, 2010, at approximately 8:50PM (CDT), Piper PA-28-140, owned by [privacy data omitted] lost power and crashed into a hay barn during a 14 CFR… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77355. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 634 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane sticking into barn roof (item 2, .PDF, 549 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20sticking%20into%20barn%20roof-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Airplane in barn roof (item 3, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Airplane%20in%20barn%20roof-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.