# NTSB CEN24LA376: Piper PA-32-300, N2032M, Pierz, MN, September 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 30, 2024, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Pierz, MN - Coordinates: 45.969779, -94.117581 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9698&lon=-94.1176&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: 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): 195231 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA376 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195231/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195231 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA376 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management 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-32-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103212), [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-32-300, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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 starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that once reaching cruising altitude, he switched the fuel selector to the right wing tip fuel tank. About 10 to 15 minutes later, the engine lost partial power. The pilot turned on the fuel pump, but he did not switch fuel tanks. The engine continued to lose power; the pilot declared an emergency and diverted to the nearest airport. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the pilot conducted a forced landing to a roadway. During the landing, the airplane veered left into the ditch to avoid oncoming motor vehicle traffic. The right wing struck a roadway sign, which resulted in substantial damage, and the airplane came to rest upright in the grass. The pilot stated that he did not switch fuel tanks during the initial loss of engine power, and that he ran the right wing tip fuel tank dry. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2032M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2032M), registered now, S/N 32-7840077, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7840077 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3587 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kab Air LLC - Registered owner: Kab Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2024, 91.3 hours before - Departed: 9Y2, East Gull Lake, MN - Destination: FCM, Minneapolis, MN - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700 total, 288 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KLXL, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KLXL 301855Z AUTO 21010G14KT 10SM CLR 25/12 A2978 RMK AO2= ## 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 20240930015709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240930015709A), Sep 30, 2024: Piper PA-32-300, Pierz, MN, Substantial damage. During a cross country flight, the PIC climbed to cruise altitude and switched fuel tanks. Approximately 15 minutes later the engine started running rough and… ## Other investigations on N2032M (2) 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 MIA88LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA204), Apr 17, 1988: Piper PA-32-300 (N2032M), Fort Myers, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB ATL80FLQ20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80FLQ20), Jun 10, 1980: Piper PA-32 (N2032M), Louisville, KY, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195231. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18034093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%20CEN24LA376_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18034901&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN24LA376-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18051563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20CEN24LA376-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.