# NTSB CEN22LA324: Piper PA-28-161, N2945Q, Grain Valley, MO, July 15, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2022, 02:45 local (07:45 UTC)
- Place: Grain Valley, MO
- Coordinates: 39.021606, -94.199972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0216&lon=-94.2000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: 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): 105515
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA324
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105515/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105515
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA324

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Law enforcement reported the airplane overflew a tractor-trailer, landed on the interstate roadway, and impacted a guardrail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot reported to law enforcement that the airplane ran out of fuel. While on-scene at the accident location, the pilot was arrested for driving while intoxicated and operating an aircraft while intoxicated. The pilot refused to provide a statement of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2945Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2945Q), registered now, S/N 28-7716128 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7716128
- Airframe hours: 5115
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2022
- Departed: JFX, Jasper, AL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 290 total, 235 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KLXT, 9 nm away
- METAR: KLXT 150753Z AUTO 18012G22KT 10SM CLR 28/16 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP153 T02830161

## 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 20220715012639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220715012639A), Jul 15, 2022: Piper PA-28-161, Grain Valley, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that while enroute to kmkc during a night cross-country flight, he exhausted his fuel. He then executed an emergency landing on highway I-70…

## Other investigations on N2945Q (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 MKC77DCD48](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77DCD48), Sep 11, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N2945Q), Lamoni, IA, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105515. 3.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14335740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt of Missouri state highway patrol report (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14335077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Seesing%20DWI%205_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photograph (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14334810&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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