# NTSB CEN21LA261: Piper PA32, N3793W, Lafayette, CO, June 11, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2021, 19:10 local (Jun 11, 2021, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: Lafayette, CO
- Coordinates: 40.03063, -105.1037
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0306&lon=-105.1037&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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Denver FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103248/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103248
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA261

## Probable cause

The flight crew’s improper fuel management that resulted in fuel starvation and the 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-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)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: 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)
- [Enroute-cruise: 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)

## Analysis

The purpose of the instructional flight was for the pilot to receive a checkout in the airplane. Before the flight, the right wing main fuel tank contained 16-18 gallons of fuel, the left wing main fuel tank contained less than 10 gallons of fuel, and both wingtip tanks were completely full (17 gallons each). The pilot and his flight instructor discussed the fuel status before departure and had agreed to operate the engine on the right wing main tank to correct the fuel imbalance between the tanks during the flight. The flight consisted of visual flight rules maneuvers and touch-and-go landings, and about 1.1 hour into the flight the airplane had a loss of engine power about 1,000 ft above the ground while in cruise flight. A forced landing was completed to a nearby field, but shortly after touchdown the airplane collided with a berm that caused the airplane to become airborne again. The nose landing gear collapsed and both wings were substantially damaged when the airplane landed hard the second time. The pilot and his flight instructor both reported that the entire flight had been flown using fuel from the right wing main fuel tank. Neither the pilot nor his flight instructor switched fuel tanks after the loss of engine power because they were focused on the forced landing. The pilot stated that based on the airplane’s performance data, the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation. An onsite examination of the wreckage revealed that the right wing main fuel tank was intact and contained less than ¼ gallon of fuel. According to the airplane’s owner’s handbook, there was about 1 pint of unusable fuel in each of the 4 fuel tanks. The remaining 3 fuel tanks contained usable fuel. Additionally, there were no mechanical malfunctions identified with the airplane’s fuel system or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3793W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3793W), registered now, S/N 32-720, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (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: 32-720
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 3420.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Flight School
- Registered owner: G&M Aircraft Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2020, 57.6 hours before
- Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,216.1 total, 1.8 in this make and model, 1,127 as pilot in command, 145.6 in the last 90 days, 55.8 in the last 30 days, 4.1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 309 total, 1.1 in this make and model, 240.9 as pilot in command, 55.6 in the last 90 days, 22.9 in the last 30 days, 1.1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 112 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: KBJC, 8 nm away
- METAR: SPECI KBJC 110110Z 320112G18KT 10SM SCT150 32/10 A2981

## 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 20210610006339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210610006339A), Jun 10, 2021: Piper PA-32-260, Lafayetter, CO, Substantial damage. On June 10th, 2021, at 1910 MST near the city of lafayette, Colorado, airplane N3793W, a Piper PA-32-260 experienced loss of power while in cruise flight…

## Other investigations on N3793W (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 CHI74FEI26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEI26), Jan 29, 1974: Piper PA-32 (N3793W), Cleveland, OH, substantial damage

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103248.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum of conversation (khaled allen) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20NTSB%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Khaled%20Allen)-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum of conversation (jordan zeller) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814280&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20NTSB%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Jordan%20Zeller)-Rel.pdf
- FAA record of conversation (khaled allen) (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Khaled%20Allen)-Rel.pdf
- FAA record of conversation (jordan zeller) (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814796&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Jordan%20Zeller)-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of conversation (nelson wolfmeier) - onsite examination (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12828025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06%20-%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Nelson%20Wolfmeier)%20-%20Onsite%20Examination-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of conversation (nelson wolfmeier) - follow-up examination (item 7, PDF, 1 page): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12827453&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=07%20-%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Nelson%20Wolfmeier)%20-%20Follow-Up%20Examination-Rel.pdf
- Piper PA-32-260 owner handbook (excerpts) (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814625&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=08%20-%20Piper%20PA-32-260%20Owner%20Handbook%20(Excerpts)-Rel.pdf
- Email concerning fuel system (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814806&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=09%20-%20Email%20Concerning%20Fuel%20System_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Logbooks (excerpts) (item 10, PDF, 6 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814906&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=10%20-%20Logbook%20(Excerpts)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 11, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814706&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=11%20-%20Photos-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.