# NTSB CEN21LA302: Piper Aerostar 600A, N10HK, Wichita, KS, July 2, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 1, 2021, 19:08 local (Jul 2, 2021, 00:08 UTC) - Place: Wichita, KS · Open field. - Coordinates: 37.819516, -97.226232 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8195&lon=-97.2262&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103403/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103403 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA302 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning and management, which 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. - [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 AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7106001), [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 AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7106001), [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 AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7106001), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7106001), [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. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7106001), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7106001), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7106001), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper AEROSTAR 600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7106001), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight in the multiengine airplane when, about 8 miles north of the intended destination, the right engine began “sputtering and popping,” and he shut it down and feathered the propeller. Shortly thereafter, the left engine began “slowly spooling down” and the airplane was not able to maintain airspeed and altitude. The pilot performed a forced landing to a flat, muddy wheat field, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. There was no evidence of fuel at the accident site or in the airplane. During the recovery of the airplane from the field, no fuel was found in the three intact fuel tanks nor in any of the engine fuel lines. The pilot later stated that he ran the airplane out of fuel. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2021, about 1908 central daylight time, a Piper Aerostar 600A, N10HK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wichita, Kansas. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when, about 8 miles north of his intended destination, he reduced engine power, pitched for level flight, and waited for indicated airspeed to drop below 174 kts to add 20° of flaps. As soon as the drag was introduced, the airplane began to “buck back and forward,” and the two engines were “throttling up and down on their own.” He noted that the right engine seemed to be “sputtering and popping” more than the left engine, so he decided to raise the flaps and to shut down and feather the right engine. He declared an emergency to air traffic control. The pilot then noticed that the left engine was “slowly spooling down” and the airplane was not able to maintain airspeed and altitude. The pilot performed a forced landing to a flat, muddy wheat field about 4 nautical miles from the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector traveled to the accident site to examine the airplane. Flight control and engine control continuity were confirmed. The master switch was turned on and the fuel gauges showed a zero indication. There was no evidence of fuel at the accident site or in the airplane. During the recovery of the airplane from the field, no fuel was found in the three intact fuel tanks, nor in any of the engine fuel lines. The pilot later stated that he ran the airplane out of fuel during the accident flight. The pilot reported that, during the preflight checks and twice during the accident flight, he activated the low fuel warning light, and no anomalies were noted. Postaccident testing of the low fuel warning light in an exemplar Piper Aerostar 602P revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10HK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10HK-2023-08-30), registration cancelled 2023-08-30, S/N 6007158061222, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AEROSTAR 600A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-600) (registry code 7106001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6007158061222 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 2744.9 - Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-540-K1J5 290 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming Engines IO-540-K1J5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ja Mach 3 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2021 - Departed: FSD, Sioux Falls, SD - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 28, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 420 total, 95 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 3 knots - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KAAO, 3 nm away - METAR: KAAO 012354Z AUTO 02003KT FEW036 26/20 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP147 60000 T02610200 10289 20244 57006 ## 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 20210701014279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210701014279A), Jul 1, 2021: Piper AEROSTAR 600, Wichita, KS, Substantial damage. Aircraft was depleted of fuel and landed in a field when the engines stopped producing power. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103403. 13.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13177846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13177925&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Various statements (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13178309&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Various%20Statements%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel receipts (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 858 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13178463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20Receipts%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 12 pages, 8.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13178372&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Redacted-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.