# NTSB CEN24LA191: Piper PA-28-180, N11NT, Dell City, TX, May 18, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 18, 2024, 10:28 local (16:28 UTC) - Place: Dell City, TX - Coordinates: 31.9387, -105.2013 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9387&lon=-105.2013&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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): 194282 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194282/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194282 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA191 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to switch fuel tanks while en route which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on a cross country flight, the engine lost power. He turned on the fuel pump and attempted to restart the engine several times; however, the engine would not restart, so he landed the airplane in a field. During the rollout, the left tire impacted a barbed wire fence, the left landing gear separated from the airplane, and the left wing to drug along the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom of the left wing. The pilot stated that he was switching fuel tanks every hour, but he became distracted when the airplane crossed a mountain range and he did not switch the fuel tanks. The engine lost power due to fuel starvation. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11NT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11NT), registered now, S/N 28-7205193, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-7205193 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 8266.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2023 - Departed: 7T7, Midland, TX - Destination: KELP, El Paso, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 101 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KELP, 60 nm away - METAR: KELP 181551Z 14005KT 10SM FEW110 28/M02 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP093 T02781022,M ## 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 20240518012559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240518012559A), May 18, 2024: Piper PA-28-180, Dell City, TX, Substantial damage. On may 18, 2024, at approximately 1046 MDT, a Piper PA28 single-engine land aircraft (asel) was involved in an accident near Dell City, TX. The pilot was… ## Other investigations on N11NT (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA23LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA029), Oct 14, 2022: Piper PA-28 (N11NT), Montgomery, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194282. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17419338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_Sabb_sig_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 772 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17419348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=accident%20photographs-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.