# NTSB CEN24LA345: Piper PA-28-180, N704VP, Grand Island, NE, September 7, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 7, 2024, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Grand Island, NE - Coordinates: 40.92501, -98.34201 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9250&lon=-98.3420&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: No injuries - Injuries: 3 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, Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195083/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195083 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA345 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning/preparation that resulted in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, a total loss of engine power, and an impact with terrain during a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (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) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he checked both wing fuel tanks by looking into their fuel filler ports prior to performing three takeoffs and landings at the departure airport to meet regulatory pilot currency requirements. There was about ¼ tank of fuel remaining in both tanks prior the flight. When the pilot completed the three takeoffs and landings, he taxied to the airport ramp to load bags and two passengers. The pilot then departed towards the destination airport where he planned on obtaining fuel and engine oil. About 10 mi from the destination airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no useable fuel. The pilot stated that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power because it ran out of fuel. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N704VP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704VP-2026-08-01), registration cancelled 2026-08-01, S/N 28-2888, built 1965 (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 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2888 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 07K, Central City, NE - Destination: GRI, Grand Island, NE - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2024; flight hours: 193 total, 75 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: GRI, 5 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 20240907015089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240907015089A), Sep 7, 2024: Piper PA-28-180, Grand Island, NE, Substantial damage. On preflight, the pilot noted that both left and right wing fuel tanks were approximately one quarter full of fuel by visually looking in the fill ports. The… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195083. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17887572&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FW_%20NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%206120,%20Piper%20PA28%20N704VP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17891995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Correspondence (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17887467&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 948 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17895129&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.