# NTSB CEN21LA383: Piper PA-28-181, N46MD, Gypsum, CO, August 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 24, 2021, 09:33 local (15:33 UTC) - Place: Gypsum, CO - Coordinates: 39.623148, -106.93823 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6231&lon=-106.9382&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103748 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103748/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103748 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA383 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel. ## 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-28-181, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane’s fuel tanks were filled to the tabs during the preflight. He then departed on about a two-hour local flight, which included touch and go landings. He added that he did a soft field technique, where he pulled up abruptly. The engine then ran rough, so he leveled off, and the engine regained power briefly, before going to idle rpm. He lowered the flaps for the forced landing. During the forced landing, the left wing separated from the airplane after impact with a fence post. The pilot stated that he ran the fuel tank too low and when he pulled up during the takeoff, the remaining fuel was unable to reach the engine. He added that he “just ran the left tank too long without switching” fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46MD-2023-04-29), registration cancelled 2023-04-29, S/N 28-7790247, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7790247 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 9555 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Itechnology Design Inc - Registered owner: Itechnology Design Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EGE, Eagle County Regional - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 70.2 total, 67.5 in this make and model, 18.8 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3.7 in the last 30 days, 2.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg ## 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 20210824013939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210824013939A), Aug 24, 2021: Piper PA-28-181, Eagle, CO, Substantial damage. On August 24th, 2021, at 1533 MST near the city of Eagle, Colorado, airplane N46MD, a Piper PA-28-181 experienced loss of power during a touch and go from… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103748. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 755 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12686135&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12684505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12686597&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-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.