# NTSB CEN24LA068: Piper PA-23-250, N66RC, Forney, TX, December 18, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 18, 2023, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Forney, TX - Coordinates: 32.75467, -96.46528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7547&lon=-96.4653&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: 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 - North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193540/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193540 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, 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. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/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-23-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102308), [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. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102308), [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-23-250, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while returning from a 5-hour aerial survey flight, she noticed about a quarter tank of fuel indicated on each fuel gauge and continued the flight toward the destination airport. While on the approach, the pilot noticed that both engines sputtered and both fuel gauges indicated empty. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a highway median, and the airplane impacted guardrails. Both wings, the empennage, and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66RC-2024-04-29), registration cancelled 2024-04-29, S/N 27-8054046, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-8054046 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 3329.1 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-C1A 250 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-C1A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Pacific Fleet Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Pacific Fleet Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2023 - Departed: HQZ, Mesquite, TX - Destination: HQZ, Mesquite, TX - Airport: HQZ - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 872 total, 69 in this make and model, 624 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KHQZ, 3 nm away - METAR: KHQZ 182050Z 33010KT 10SM CLR 17/M02 A3025 ## 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 20231218022459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231218022459A), Dec 18, 2023: Piper PA23-250, Forney, TX, Destroyed. An on-scene investigation was conducted. The aircraft came to rest in the median of us highway 80 at pison road overpass. Both wing tips were impacted, and the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193540. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16540018&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%20-%20N66RC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 933 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16573973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16636038&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Watson-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16636780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Bulk%20Wreckage%20Form%20N66RC_Redacted-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.