# NTSB CEN12LA007: Piper PA-38-112, N6403A, Centerburg, OH, October 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2011, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Centerburg, OH - Coordinates: 40.284168, -82.449165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2842&lon=-82.4492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-COL-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82005 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82005/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82005 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper pre-flight planning and failure to ensure that there was an adequate fuel supply on board to complete the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the malfunction of the fuel quantity indicator. ## 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; cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103812), [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-38-112, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he visually checked the fuel level in the tanks and compared it against the fuel quantity gauges prior to the flight. He stated that the left tank contained about 6 gallons of fuel and the right tank contained about 10 gallons. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot switched the fuel selector from the left tank, which was indicating 1 to 2 gallons of fuel, to the right tank. The flight continued for another 50 minutes, and, during the descent to the destination airport, the engine lost power. The right fuel quantity indicator was indicating 5 gallons of fuel at the time. The pilot stated that when he switched the fuel selector back to the left tank in an attempt to restart the engine, the right fuel quantity indicator dropped to 0 gallons. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and force landed the airplane in a corn field. The nosegear collapsed during the landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were empty and a small amount of fuel remained in the gascolator. The reason for the discrepancy of the right fuel quantity indicator versus the amount of fuel in the right fuel tank was not determined. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2011, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N6403A, experienced a nose gear collapse and substantial damage during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power in Centerburg, Ohio. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, was on a personal flight. The flight was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated the Blue Ash Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio, at 1100. The pilot reported that he visually checked the fuel level in the tanks and compared it against the fuel quantity gauges prior to the flight. He stated the left tank contained about 6 gallons of fuel and the right tank contained about 10 gallons. The takeoff was made using fuel form the left fuel tank. Shortly after takeoff, he switched the fuel selector from the left tank, which was indicating 1 to 2 gallons of fuel, to the right tank. The flight continued for another 50 minutes and during the descent to the destination airport, the engine lost power. The right fuel quantity indicator was indicating 5 gallons of fuel at the time. The pilot stated that when he switched the fuel selector back to the left tank in an attempt to restart the engine, the right fuel quantity indicator dropped to zero gallons. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and a forced landing was made in a corn field. The nose gear collapsed and the firewall was bent during the landing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed both fuel tanks were empty and a small amount of fuel remained in the gascolator. The pilot stated he did not recall when the airplane was last fueled. The reason for the discrepancy of the right fuel quantity indicator versus the amount of fuel in the right fuel tank was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6403A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6403A-2012-08-14), registration cancelled 2012-08-14, S/N 38-78A0419, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0419 - Airframe hours: 5163 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Whittenburg Douglas M - Registered owner: Whittenburg Douglas M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2011, 8 hours before - Departed: ISZ, Blue Ash, OH - Destination: 4I3, Mt. Vernon, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 379 total, 99 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: 4I3, 5 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 20111005023419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111005023419A), Oct 5, 2011: Piper PA-38-112, Centerburg, OH, Substantial damage. Aircraft N6403A departed blue ash airport (kisz)destination greenville pa. (K4G1) with a planned fuel stop at knox county airport(K4I3). The aircraft engine… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82005. 605 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 503 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.