# NTSB CEN21LA247: Piper PA-32-260, N3992W, Flint, MI, May 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 29, 2021, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Flint, MI - Coordinates: 42.970371, -83.74585 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9704&lon=-83.7459&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA East Michigan FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103197/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103197 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA247 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor his fuel quantity during flight which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103206), [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 related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before the flight, he set a 30-minute fuel management timer to remind him to switch fuel tanks. The pilot took off and conducted flight maneuvers; he then returned to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. The alarm from his fuel management timer activated while on short final for the first landing; however, he forgot to switch fuel tanks. During the initial climb after the fourth touch-and-go landing, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot attempted to land on a nearby taxiway that paralleled the runway; however, the pilot overshot the taxiway. As the pilot turned the airplane back towards the taxiway, he held too much back pressure on the yoke in order to remain airborne and stalled the airplane, about 15 ft above ground level. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest on the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot additionally stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had immediately switched to the other fuel tank when his fuel management timer alarm activated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3992W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3992W-2021-09-27), registration cancelled 2021-09-27, S/N 32-935, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-935 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4967 - Engines: LYCOMING ENGINES 0-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2020 - Airport: FNT, Bishop Intl, runway 09/27, 7,201 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 331 total, 177 in this make and model, 284 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KFNT - METAR: KFNT 291253Z 04012KT 10SM CLR 10/00 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP225 T01000000 ## 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 20210529007079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210529007079A), May 29, 2021: Piper PA-32-260, Flint, MI, Substantial damage. The pilot departed Flint airport (kfnt) to a local practice area for the purpose of practicing maneuvers. After about 30 minutes he returned to Flint for… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103197. 3.6 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=12452669&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12452489&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.