# NTSB CEN21LA461: Piper PA-32-260, N130GH, Hancock, MN, September 29, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2021, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Hancock, MN
- Coordinates: 45.4967, -95.7967 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4967&lon=-95.7967&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: 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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA461
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104002/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA461

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power as a result of fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly manage the fuel on board the airplane and his failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection.

## 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 level (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)
- [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)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 pilot reported that before he departed for a cross country flight, he asked the fuel servicing personnel to fill the left fuel tank. While enroute and burning fuel only from the left tank, the airplane lost all engine power and the pilot executed a forced landing into a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. During a post-accident inspection, the left fuel tank was found to be empty. The pilot stated that he assumed all of his fuel tanks were full at the time of departure but did not confirm the fuel level by looking in the tanks or at the fuel gauges. He also stated that his failure to verify the fuel quantity resulted in a fuel exhaustion event when the 6.6 gallons of fuel in the left main tank were consumed. He did not use fuel from the right tank during the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N130GH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N130GH), registered now, S/N 32-124, built 1965 (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: 32-124
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 4530
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Brad Influence Llp
- Registered owner: Brad Influence Llp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2020, 100 hours before
- Departed: Y63, Elbow Lake, MN
- Destination: KBBB, Benson, MN
- Airport: None
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 586.6 total, 217 in this make and model, 528.2 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KMOX, 8 nm away
- METAR: KMOX 291615Z AUTO 16008KT 10SM CLR 24/13 A2992 RMK AO2

## 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 20210929016839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210929016839A), Sep 29, 2021: Piper PA-32-260, Hancock, MN, Substantial damage. 2021-09-29 1130L, N130GH, site visit and pilot interview. PA32 made a forced landing in a cornfield after loss of all engine power during cruise from Y63 to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104002. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 893 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12805855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 869 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12805994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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