# NTSB CEN21LA020: Piper PA-28, N15608, Beloit, OH, October 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 16, 2020, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Beloit, OH - Coordinates: 40.936, -81.005 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9360&lon=-81.0050&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 102163 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102163/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102163 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA020 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and inflight planning that resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (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: 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he did not adequately verify the required fuel was onboard during the preflight inspection. After completing a local flight, while on approach for landing, the engine lost total power and the pilot made a forced landing that resulted in damage to the fuselage, right wing leading edge, and both ailerons. He initially assumed the cause of the engine power loss was carburetor icing. A postaccident examination revealed the fuel tanks were intact and empty. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He added that the airplane had not been refueled after a previous flight as he had assumed and attributed his oversight during the preflight inspection to complacency and rushing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15608](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15608-2022-12-31), registration cancelled 2022-12-31, S/N 28-7325114, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 (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: 28-7345112 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 3915 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fluid Process Automated LLC - Registered owner: Fluid Process Automated LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2020, 26.1 hours before - Departed: 62D, Warren, OH - Destination: K3G6, Beloit, OH - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 279 total, 130 in this make and model, 235 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 310° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KCAK, 19 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 20201016018639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201016018639A), Oct 16, 2020: Piper PA-28-140, Beloit, OH, Substantial damage. On 10/16/2020 @ 2319 zulu, aircraft N15608 was flying to 3G6 from 62D when the engine quit. The pilot contacted ATC and tried to make the airport, but he… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102163. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11590277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of aircraft (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11589810&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20of%20Aircraft-Rel.pdf - FAA examination (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11590243&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Correspondence-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.