# NTSB CEN20LA385: Piper PA28-140, N2875T, Red Oak, IA, September 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 5, 2020, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Red Oak, IA - Coordinates: 41.010158, -95.220352 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0102&lon=-95.2204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA385 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA385 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: 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) - [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was located in a field following a forced landing. There was no useable fuel aboard and a postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The accident is consistent with the pilot mis-management of the fuel onboard, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2020, about 1400 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N2875T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Red Oak, Iowa. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was located in a field following a forced landing. There was no useable fuel in either wing tank or the respective wing fuel lines. The right wing and right horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane, engine, and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, form 6120.1, was not received from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2875T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2875T-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 28-7225260, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28-140 - 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: 28-7225260 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 3886.94 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2020 - Departed: Valparaiso, IN - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: unknown; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2019; flight hours: 1,304 total, 1,304 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: RDK ## 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 20200905016209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200905016209A), Sep 5, 2020: Piper PA-28-140, Red Oak, IA, Substantial damage. The aircraft received substantial damage during the accident sequence. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries during the accident sequence and were… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101925. 1.8 MB in all. - Letter to pilot for form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11648271&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Letter_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of examination (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11646514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20EXAMINATION%20MASTER%20Ver%203-Rel.pdf - Memorandum - wreckage information (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13176918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20-%20Wreckage%20and%20Impact%20Information-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11649035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.