# NTSB CEN15CA158: Piper PA 28-140, N1513J, Kansas City, MO, March 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 1, 2015, 19:00 local (Mar 2, 2015, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Kansas City, MO - Coordinates: 39.126945, -94.599166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1269&lon=-94.5992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 21, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 90805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90805/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90805 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA158 ## Probable cause The 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-28-140, 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) - [Use of equip/info: use of available resources](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, following a touch and go landing, the engine sputtered and lost power. The left wing and empennage were substantially damaged during the forced landing. An examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies. The left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained 10 gallons of fuel. The pilot wrote that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative Shortly after takeoff, following a touch and go landing, the engine sputtered and lost power. The left wing and empennage were substantially damaged during the forced landing. An examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies. The left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained 10 gallons of fuel. The pilot wrote that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1513J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1513J-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 28-23907, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-140 (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: 28-23907 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4339 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 2015 - Departed: KGPH, Mosby, MO - Destination: KGPH, Mosby, MO - Airport: KMKC, Charles B Wheeler Downtown Apt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 97 total, 3 in this make and model, 97 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 320° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 43 °F - Observed at: KMKC ## 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 20150301002459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150301002459A), Mar 1, 2015: Piper PA-28-140, Kansas City, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot performed a "touch and go" from runway 01 at the Charles B Wheeler (kmkc) airport. After climbing to about 1000 feet, the engine lost power. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90805. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 13 photos, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.