# NTSB CEN11CA376: Piper PA-28-161, N2120J, San Angelo, TX, April 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2011, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: San Angelo, TX - Coordinates: 31.116388, -100.397781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1164&lon=-100.3978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA376 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79312/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79312 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA376 ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that the flight experienced a loss of engine power during the second leg of the cross-country flight. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing the airplane's right flap was damaged and the right wing spar was bent. The FAA inspector attributed the loss of engine power to fuel starvation. The left fuel tank had 17 gallons of fuel and the right tank was empty. The FAA inspector confirmed that there were no mechanical anomalies or failures with the airplane, engine, or related systems prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the accident pilot reported that the flight experienced a loss of engine power during the second leg of the cross-country flight. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing the airplane's right flap was damaged and the right wing spar was bent. The FAA inspector attributed the loss of engine power to fuel starvation. The left fuel tank had 17 gallons of fuel and the right tank was empty. The FAA inspector confirmed that there were no mechanical anomalies or failures with the airplane, engine, or related systems prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2120J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2120J-2025-05-31), registration cancelled 2025-05-31, S/N 28-7916198, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7916198 - Airframe hours: 4833 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2011 - Departed: KT82, Fredricksburg, TX - Destination: San Angelo, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 93 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 17 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KSJT, 20 nm away ## 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 20110417009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110417009919A), Apr 17, 2011: Piper PA-28-161, San Angelo, TX, Substantial damage. On April 17, 2011, N2120J, a Piper PA-28-161, was operated by private pilot [privacy data omitted] under VFR flight rules and title 14 CFR part 91. The pilot… ## Other investigations on N2120J (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN21LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA256), Jun 3, 2021: Piper PA-28-161 (N2120J), San Angelo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate maintenance of the left main landing gear strut, which resulted in a landing gear collapse. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79312. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Redacted.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.