# NTSB CEN23LA345: Piper PA-28-181, N38483, Rosenberg, TX, August 2, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 2, 2023, 15:59 local (20:59 UTC) - Place: Rosenberg, TX - Coordinates: 29.523331, -95.779758 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5233&lon=-95.7798&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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192784/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192784 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA345 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper fuel management that resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing and landing overrun at an alternate airport. ## 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) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (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: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-28-181, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that in preparation for his solo cross-country flight, he reviewed his flight planning with his flight instructor. He said he flew to the destination airport, where he performed one approach and landing, followed by flight maneuvers north of the airport, and then landed. The pilot shut the airplane down to use the restroom. Prior to departure from the destination airport, he did not visually check the airplane fuel level through the fuel filler ports. During the return flight, he visually observed the fuel quantity and was decreasing rapidly, and he decided to land at an alternate airport. During the approach to the alternate airport, the engine sputtered and lost power. He landed the airplane with a tailwind and strongly applied the brakes to try to slow the airplane down as soon as possible. The airplane overran the runway and impacted a fence and construction equipment that resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no useable fuel in the airplane fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38483](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38483), registered now, S/N 28-7790556 (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: 28-7790556 - Year built: 1977 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kdrd Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 14, 2023, 12,546.5 hours before - Departed: 5C1, San Antonio, TX - Destination: LVJ, Houston, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: T54, Lane Airpark, runway 13, 3,020 × 35 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial, student; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 55.7 total, 10.8 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: SGR, 9 nm away ## 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 20230802011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230802011849A), Aug 2, 2023: Piper PA-28-181, Rosenberg, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft was flying from boerne, TX to pearland regional airport. The pilot observed the aircraft was low on fuel and would not reach the intended… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192784. 3.1 MB in all. - Email request for pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16340638&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%206120,%20Piper%20N38483_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� memorandum of conversation pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16344969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� record of conversation FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16343885&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Flight track data (item 4, PDF, 16 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16199989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Track%20Data%20Master-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 663 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16345109&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.