# NTSB CEN10LA430: Piper PA-28-151, N1158X, Spearfish, SD, July 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2010, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Spearfish, SD - Coordinates: 44.481109, -103.785835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4811&lon=-103.7858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76740 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA430 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76740/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76740 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA430 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102805), [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-28-151, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was 70 mph when it was crossing the runway threshold, which was 10 mph slower than he normally landed the airplane. He decided to execute a go-around and flew the length of the runway before making the crosswind turn. When he turned left onto the downwind leg, the engine stopped producing power and he executed a forced landing to a field. He reported that he did not see a tree in the field and the right wing impacted the tree after the airplane touched down. Postaccident inspection of the left fuel tank revealed that it was full of fuel. There was no evidence of fuel in the right wing’s fuel tank. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane and that he did not switch the fuel tanks prior to landing, causing the engine to lose power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2010, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N1158X, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain and a tree after a loss of engine power during a go-around at the Black Hills Airport (SPF), Spearfish, South Dakota. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight departed from Townsend Airport (8U8), Townsend, Montana, about 0500, and was stopping at SPF for fuel. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was 70 mph when it was crossing the threshold for landing on runway 30 (5,498 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), which was 10 mph slower than he normally landed the airplane. He decided to execute a go-around, and he flew the length of the runway before making the crosswind turn. When he turned left onto the downwind leg, the engine stopped producing power, and he executed a forced landing to a field. He reported that he did not see a tree in the field, and the right wing impacted the tree after the airplane touched down. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and accident site. The wreckage path was about 160 feet in length on a northeasterly heading. The initial point of impact was a ground scar made by the left wingtip. The airplane’s right wing was found lodged around the trunk of a tree located about 100 feet from the initial impact point. The airplane’s main wreckage came to rest about 60 feet from the tree. The left fuel tank was full of fuel. There was no evidence of fuel in the right wing’s fuel tank. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane. He reported that he did not switch the fuel tanks prior to landing, and that the “engine quit due to fuel starvation.” The direct flight distance between 8U8 and SPR is about 344 nautical miles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1158X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1158X-2012-05-24), registration cancelled 2012-05-24, S/N 28-7515395, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7515395 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Glen Van Zee - Registered owner: Van Zee Shirley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2010 - Departed: 8U8, Townsend, MT - Destination: SPF, Spearfish, SD - Airport: SPF, Black Hills Airport, runway 30, 5,498 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 210 in this make and model, 189 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: SPF ## 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 20100724042889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100724042889A), Jul 24, 2010: Piper PA-28-151, Spearfish, SD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On 7/24/2010, at 0800, a PA-28-151 co-owned by [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident during a 14 CFR part 91 flight. VFR conditions prevailed and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76740. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 626 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - South Dakota Highway Patrol's Wreckage Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=South%20Dakota%20Highway%20Patrol%27s%20Wreckage%20Diagram-Redacted.PDF - Photo Log of Spearfish Police Dept's Photos (6) Embedded Photos (item 4, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Log%20of%20Spearfish%20Police%20Dept%27s%20Photos%20(6)%20Embedded%20Photos-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.