# NTSB CEN24LA022: Piper PA-28-181, N5324F, Iola, KS, October 22, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 21, 2023, 19:35 local (Oct 22, 2023, 00:35 UTC) - Place: Iola, KS - Coordinates: 37.873611, -95.353333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8736&lon=-95.3533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: 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): 193294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total 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-28-181, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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) - [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) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had 48 gallons of fuel on board and assumed that he would be able to fly for about 5 hours. After about 4 hours and 20 minutes of flying, the pilot began his descent for landing at his destination, turned the fuel pump on, and checked the fuel gauges. The gauges read about 3 or 4 gallons of fuel remaining in each fuel tank. Shortly thereafter, the engine quit. The pilot switched fuel tanks and the engine started again momentarily and then quit again. He landed the airplane on a gravel road about 1.5 miles northeast of the airport. After touchdown, the right wing struck a tree and separated from the fuselage resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he believes the airplane ran out fuel, which resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5324F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5324F-2024-11-09), registration cancelled 2024-11-09, S/N 28-7790088, built 1976 (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: 28-7790088 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 4969 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Toby Baker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 2023 - Departed: MDW, Chicago, IL - Destination: K88, Iola, IL - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 23, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 217 total, 83 in this make and model, 181 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Observed at: K88, 1.5 nm away - METAR: K88 220035Z AUTO 02004KT 10SM CLR 20/03 A2994 ## 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 20231021016229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231021016229A), Oct 21, 2023: Piper PA-28-181, Iola, KS, Substantial damage. PIC experienced fuel exhaustion. Investigation discovered that the fuel planned was insufficient for the planned flight. The PIC experienced minor injuries and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 29, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193294. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16703206&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=New6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16703367&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-Rel.pdf - POH excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16703303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Piper%20Doc%20-%20Fuel%20Capacity-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - email, pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16728327&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-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.