# NTSB CEN22LA384: Piper PA-24-250, N5253P, Kearney, NE, August 12, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 12, 2022, 15:57 local (20:57 UTC) - Place: Kearney, NE - Coordinates: 40.6993, -99.0817 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6993&lon=-99.0817&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: 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): 105734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA384 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105734/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105734 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA384 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate in-flight planning that resulted in a 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-24-250, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on a short cross-country flight and near his destination airport, the airplane’s engine lost power. The pilot subsequently performed a wheels-up landing on a gravel road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage. A postaccident inspection of the airplane at the accident site revealed that both wing fuel tanks were empty. No other preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions were found with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5253P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5253P), registered now, S/N 24-285 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-285 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3303 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Whitten Ranch Inc - Registered owner: Whitten Ranch Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2021 - Departed: CZD, Cozad, NE - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KEAR - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 687 total, 119 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KEAR, 4 nm away - METAR: KEAR 122056Z AUTO 19013KT 10SM 34/17 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP155 T03390172 ## 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 20220812014499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220812014499A), Aug 12, 2022: Piper PA-24-250, Kearney, NE, Substantial damage. On August 12, 2022 at approximately 1557 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper PA-24-250 airplane was substantially damaged during an emergency landing on a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105734. 735 KB in all. - Memorandum for the record pilot statement summary CEN22LA384 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14523701&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement%20Summary%20CEN22LA384_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record on scene information CEN22LA384 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14523435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20On%20Scene%20Information%20CEN22LA384_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN22LA384 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14522824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN22LA384-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.