# NTSB CEN21LA260: Piper PA-28-140, N4147J, Denton, TX, June 10, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 9, 2021, 21:00 local (Jun 10, 2021, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.201961, -97.199097 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2020&lon=-97.1991&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, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103247/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103247 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA260 ## Probable cause The flight instructor and student pilot’s failure to properly manage the airplane’s available fuel resulting in 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [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. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was taking off following a touch and go landing and was about 5 seconds into the climb when the engine lost all power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He declared an emergency and chose to conduct a forced landing to an upsloping field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left horizontal stabilizer. The fuel tanks were intact. A Federal Aviation Inspector, who conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane at the scene, reported that the left fuel tank was completely empty, and the 25-gallon capacity right fuel tank was found about ½ full. The fuel selector was in the “Off” position. No other preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane were found that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that they had purchased 20 gallons of fuel prior to the flight. They flew the airplane to another airport where they did a touch-an-go-landing, before flying back to their home airport where they did another touch and go landing. It was during the climb following that touch and go landing when the engine lost all power. The flight instructor could not recall which fuel tank was selected at the time of the power loss. Given this information, it is likely that the left fuel tank was selected and was exhausted of fuel during the takeoff, which resulted in the total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4147J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4147J-2023-07-18), registration cancelled 2023-07-18, S/N 28-22471, built 1966 (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: 28-22471 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2000 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph Starnes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2021; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 499 total, 100 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 50 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: KDTO - METAR: KDTO 100153Z 15007KT 10SM CLR 29/23 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP119 T02940233 ## 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 20210610006629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210610006629A), Jun 10, 2021: Piper PA-28-140, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. While on a training flight, the aircraft performed a touch & go, and was approximately 10 seconds into the climb-out when the engine lost power. CFI assumed… ## Other investigations on N4147J (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW72DPM11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72DPM11), Nov 9, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N4147J), Morris, OK, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103247. 4.8 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN21LA260 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12819028&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN21LA260_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record summary of FAA on site examination and findings (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12818561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Summary%20of%20FAA%20On%20Site%20Examination%20and%20Findings_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN21LA260 (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12819437&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN21LA260-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record student pilot contact CEN21LA260 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12909661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Student%20Pilot%20Contact%20CEN21LA260%20(2)_Redacted-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.