# NTSB CEN15CA006: Piper PA 31-350, N300VF, Glenham, SD, October 7, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 7, 2014, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Glenham, SD - Coordinates: 45.516109, -100.271385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5161&lon=-100.2714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90228/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90228 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in losses of power on both engines due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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-31-350, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103110), [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-31-350, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103110), [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: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a repositioning flight, the airplane encountered winds aloft that were higher than forecasted. The pilot reported that 25 minutes into the flight the left engine stopped producing power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot secured the engine and continued towards the closest airport. Approximately 8 to 9 minutes later, the right engine stopped producing power due to fuel exhaustion. During a forced landing to a field, the right wing was substantially damaged. There were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During a repositioning flight, the airplane encountered winds aloft that were higher than forecasted. The pilot reported that 25 minutes into the flight the left engine stopped producing power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot secured the engine and continued towards the closest airport. Approximately 8 to 9 minutes later, the right engine stopped producing power due to fuel exhaustion. During a forced landing to a field, the right wing was substantially damaged. There were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N300VF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N300VF-2015-11-17), registration cancelled 2015-11-17, S/N 31-7852050, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 31-350 (350) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7852050 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 14861 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 350 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Aircraft Unlimited Inc - Registered owner: Aircraft Unlimited Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 15, 2014 - Departed: KABR, Aberdeen, SD - Destination: KMBG, Mobridge, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 6,481 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 5,229 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KMBG, 6 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 20141007019949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141007019949A), Oct 7, 2014: Piper PA-31-350, Glenham, SD, Substantial damage. On 10/7/2014, N300VF was on a CFR part 91 VFR re-positioning flight from aberdeen, SD to mobridge, SD. The pilot stated his cruise altitude was 4500'MSL. The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90228. 350 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.