# NTSB CEN25LA065: Piper PA-28, N5263W, New Braunfels, TX, December 28, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 27, 2024, 22:45 local (Dec 28, 2024, 04:45 UTC)
- Place: New Braunfels, TX
- Coordinates: 29.702707, -98.042741 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7027&lon=-98.0427&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 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): 199488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199488/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199488
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA065

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper in-flight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a subsequent off-field landing on rough terrain.

## 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-28, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102801), [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, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102801), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102801), [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, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Prior to the flight, the pilot checked the fuel level and noted the airplane contained about 38 gallons of fuel. During the cross-country flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks about every 15 minutes. While on approach about 3 miles from the destination airport with the fuel selector in the left tank position, the engine began to intermittently lose power. With the electric fuel pump on, the pilot pumped the throttle, and the engine temporarily regained full power. The pilot attempted to gain some altitude when the engine lost total power. Unable to make the airport, the pilot conducted an off-field landing, during which the left wing sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank contained 8 gallons of fuel.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5263W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5263W), registered now, S/N 28-309, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-309
- Year built: 1962
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: JWY, Midlothian, TX
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KBAZ
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 118.4 total, 3.5 in this make and model, 50.7 as pilot in command, 16.4 in the last 90 days, 15.3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observed at: KBAZ
- METAR: KBAZ 290451Z AUTO 31007KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP130 T01440039

## 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 20241227018819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241227018819A), Dec 27, 2024: Piper PA-28, New Braunfels, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft impacted westmeyer road approximately 3,450 feet from runway 17 thresh hold at baz. It then slid approximately 125 feet through an old fence line…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199488. 24.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 23.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18199853&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 375 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18199863&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5263W_Shrt_BAZ_17-Notes%20v1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18200380&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation aircraft recovery company (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18200896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Recovery-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photograph (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18200590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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