# NTSB CEN23LA020: Piper PA-22-160, N8457D, Osage, AR, October 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 26, 2022, 15:27 local (20:27 UTC) - Place: Osage, AR - Coordinates: 36.16, -93.35 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1600&lon=-93.3500&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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 106211 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106211/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106211 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA020 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. ## 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; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102214), [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-22-160, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/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-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection and filled both of the airplane’s fuel tanks. While enroute, the airplane’s engine lost power. The pilot switched fuel tanks but was unable to restore power. The pilot then conducted a forced landing to a rough field, during which the airplane impacted a hay bale. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel. No other postaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations were found. Immediately following the accident, the pilot stated that he ran out of fuel. The pilot wrote on NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1 that it was possible either or both fuel tanks were not completely full “due to difficulty with the ladder and fuel pump.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8457D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8457D), registered now, S/N 22-5713, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-5713 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 4020 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320-B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sbsb, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2022 - Departed: KFSM, Fort Smith, AR - Destination: KHRO, Harrison, AR - Airport: Field - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 24, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,721 total, 1,093 in this make and model, 2,687 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 3004.00 inHg - Observed at: KHRO, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KHRO 261953Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/02 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP187 T01780017= ## 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 20221026017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221026017979A), Oct 26, 2022: Piper PA-22-160, Osage, AR, Substantial damage. On October 26, 2022, Piper PA-22-160, [privacy data omitted]was flying VFR from harrison county (kasl @ martial TX) - fort smith regional airport (kfsm) -… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106211. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14684235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14902399&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20CEN23LA020-Rel.pdf - Amended pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14848512&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Amendment%20letter%20-%20PIC-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14642645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Airplane%20Photo%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. --- 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.