# NTSB CEN21LA171: Piper PA-30, N7588Y, Wanatah, IN, March 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 22, 2021, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Wanatah, IN - Coordinates: 41.451359, -86.93296 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4514&lon=-86.9330&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 102853 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102853/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102853 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA171 ## Probable cause The pilots’ fuel mismanagement, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power to both engines. ## 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-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103002), [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; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103002), [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. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing instrument approaches in the multiengine airplane with a safety pilot. While in cruise flight with fuel to both engines selected from the respective auxiliary fuel tanks, the left engine lost power. During diversion to a nearby airport, the right engine lost power and the pilots conducted a forced landing to a farm field. Both pilots thought that the auxiliary fuel tank gauges indicated that the fuel remaining was adequate and did not attempt to select fuel from either inboard fuel tank after each engine lost power. Examination revealed that both auxiliary fuel tanks were empty, while both inboard fuel tanks were nearly full. Fuel gauge testing revealed normal operation, and no fuel contamination, leaks, or anomalies of the fuel system were observed. Based on the available information, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilots’ mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of power to both engines due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2021, about 1230 central daylight time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, N7588Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wanatah, Indiana. The two commercial pilots were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was practicing instrument approaches with a safety pilot. While in cruise flight after about 2.6 flight hours, the left engine lost power and the pilot diverted toward Porter County Airport (VPZ), Valparaiso, Indiana. The pilot subsequently feathered the left engine propeller to reduce drag. While the airplane was on final approach, the right engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing into a field, which damaged the fuselage skin and longerons. The pilots recalled that both respective fuel selectors were in the auxiliary tank position. Although both pilots thought the respective auxiliary tank fuel gages indicated more than ½ full when the engines lost power, examination revealed that both auxiliary fuel tanks were empty, while both inboard fuel tanks were nearly full. No evidence of fuel contamination or fuel leaks were observed and both auxiliary fuel tank gauges indicated empty. No anomalies were noted with the engine-driven fuel pumps or fuel boost pumps. Both auxiliary fuel tanks were serviced with 5 gallons of fuel, and the tank gauges increased to a level that corresponded to the fuel added. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7588Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7588Y), registered now, S/N 30-655, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-655 - Year built: 1964 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: J Bird Flight Training LLC - Registered owner: J Bird Flight Training LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: VPZ, Valparaiso, IN - Destination: VPZ, Valparaiso, IN - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,240 total, 9 in this make and model, 660 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2020; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 200 total, 0 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: VPZ, 5 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 20210322003369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210322003369A), Mar 22, 2021: Piper PA-30, Wanatah, IN, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying approaches with a safety pilot to build time. In cruise at 9,000', left engine began sputtering. Pilot turned toward the porter co. airport… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102853. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12655672&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 -- safety pilot (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12655063&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%202nd%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of airplane at accident site (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12655503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site-Rel.pdf - NTSB damage assessment (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12655616&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Damage%20Assessment_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12656153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Fuel system examination information (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12656039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Information-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.