# NTSB CEN20LA370: Piper PA24, N7469P, Bryan, TX, August 30, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2020, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Bryan, TX - Coordinates: 30.71567, -96.331323 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7157&lon=-96.3313&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Lycoming Engines, Piper Aircraft, McCauley Propeller Systems, FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA370 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101884/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101884 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA370 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power on takeoff 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-24-250, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102404), [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-24-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md?model=7102404), [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 exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taking three passengers for a local sightseeing flight. A security video at the airport showed the airplane took off from runway 15. There were no video recordings of or witnesses to the accident. The airplane wreckage was located on a flat grass field off of the departure end of runway 15 on airport property and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. An onsite examination of the airframe found the fuel tank selector handle in the right main position. The right main fuel cell was not damaged and did not contain fuel; however, fuel was likely available in the other three fuel tanks. Rotational signatures on the propeller were consistent with it not being driven at the time of impact. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing showed that the pilot had used the allergy medication cetirizine. Cetirizine may sometimes cause drowsiness, but whether cetirizine effects contributed to the accident could not be determined. Based upon the available evidence, the lack of damage to the propeller is consistent with a loss of engine power and it is likely that the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. The reason for the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative The Piper PA-24-250 Owner’s Handbook discusses preflight inspection areas for the airplane. This document discusses the fuel tanks and states for the pilot to ensure that, “the fuel tanks are full or are at a safe level of proper fuel.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA-H-8083-25B discusses fuel quantity gauges and states in part: The fuel quantity gauges indicate the amount of fuel measured by a sensing unit in each fuel tank and is displayed in gallons or pounds. Aircraft certification rules require accuracy in fuel gauges only when they read “empty.” Any reading other than “empty” should be verified. Do not depend solely on the accuracy of the fuel quantity gauges. Always visually check the fuel level in each tank during the preflight inspection, and then compare it with the corresponding fuel quantity indication. On August 30, 2020, about 1345 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N7469P, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Bryan, Texas. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured, and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a family member, the pilot had purchased the airplane about 2 weeks before the accident and the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to take his family members sightseeing in the local area. Security video footage at Coulter Field Airport (CFD), Bryan, Texas, showed that the airplane took off from runway 15; the video did not show the accident. The airplane wreckage was located crashed on a flat grass field off of the departure end of runway 15 on airport property. The surviving passenger was unable to recall any events from the accident. The Travis County (Texas) Medical Examiner’s Office, Austin, Texas, performed the pilot’s autopsy. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was an accident. Toxicology testing performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office was negative for tested-for substances, and a vitreous chemistry was unremarkable. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, detected cetirizine in urine and at 216 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) in heart blood. Oxymetazoline was detected in urine but not heart blood. Cetirizine, sometimes marketed as Zyrtec, is an antihistamine medication that is available over the counter and is commonly used to treat allergy symptoms. The intended medicinal effects of cetirizine generally occur at blood cetirizine levels ranging from about 190 ng/mL to 1450 ng/mL. Cetirizine typically carries a warning that users may experience drowsiness and should be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. Data on psychomotor impairment from cetirizine is mixed, with some studies, but not others finding mildly impairing effects. The FAA states that pilots should notfly within 48 hours of using cetirizine and should not use it more than 1-2 times per week. Oxymetazoline, sometimes marketed as Afrin, is a medication commonly used as a nasal decongestant spray. It is available over the counter and generally is not considered impairing. The calculated density altitude for the accident site was 3,205 ft. above mean sea level. An onsite examination of the airframe confirmed flight control continuity. The fuel tank selector handle was found in the right main position and was able to smoothly rotate through all the other positions with the detents plainly noted in each position. The right main fuel cell was visible from the wing root. The inboard forward portion of the right main fuel cell was observed with no tears or damage noted. Manual manipulation of the fuel cell did not reveal the presence of any usable fuel in what appeared to be the lowest portion of the fuel cell. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The three bladed constant speed metal propeller remained attached at the crankshaft flange. The propeller blades remained attached to the propeller hub. Rotational signatures on the propeller were consistent with it not being driven at the time of impact. The pilot’s daughter posted three photographs of the airplane on social media before the flight. One photograph, taken by the daughter sitting in the front right seat, showed the right side of the instrument panel and included the fuel gauges. Based on the image, the following estimates were established regarding the airplane’s fuel status right before the accident: Left inboard fuel tank (main): About ¼ full. Left outboard fuel tank (auxiliary): Between ½ to ¾ full. Right inboard fuel tank (main): Between empty to ¼ full. Right outboard fuel tank (auxiliary): About ¾ full. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7469P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7469P-2025-07-22), registration cancelled 2025-07-22, S/N 24-2660, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2660 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 3325.52 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2020, 6.74 hours before - Departed: CFD, Bryan, TX - Airport: CFD, Coulter Field, runway 15, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; toxicology performed; flight hours: 226.4 total, 130.9 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KCLL, 8 nm away - METAR: KCLL 301853Z 14005G21KT 10SM FEW050 35/22 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP077 T03500217 ## 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 20200830015749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200830015749A), Aug 30, 2020: Piper PA-24-250, Bryan, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. On 08/30/20 kcfd security cameras observed the subject airplane loading pilot and 3 passengers at 1332 CDT. The airplane had not been refueled at kcfd and a… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101884. 1.9 GB in all. - Accident photographs (item 1, PDF, 16 pages, 27.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822752&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - NTSB airframe and engine examination reports (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12717910&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Reports%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cfd security camera video footage #1 (courtesy of cfd) (item 3, MP4, 569 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12912793&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=CFD%20Security%20Camera%20Video%20Footage%201-Rel.mp4 - Cfd security camera video footage #2 (courtesy of cfd) (item 4, MP4, 570 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12912997&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=CFD%20Security%20Camera%20Video%20Footage%202-Rel.mp4 - Cfd security camera video footage #3 (courtesy of cfd) (item 5, MP4, 135 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12913007&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=CFD%20Secruity%20Camera%20Video%20Footage%203-Rel.mp4 - Cfd security camera video footage #4 (courtesy of cfd) (item 6, MP4, 566 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12913258&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=CFD%20Security%20Camera%20Video%20Footage%204-Rel.mp4 - Additional documents (item 7, PDF, 23 pages, 19.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12717805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additional%20Documents%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - social media post (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14065017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20LA370%20Snapchat%20Image%20ROC-Rel.pdf - Toxicology report (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12719508&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%20Report%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB party member forms (item 10, PDF, 3 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12719120&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Member%20Forms%20Redacted-Rel.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.