# NTSB CEN26LA225: Piper PA-30, N8143Y, Meridian, MS, June 15, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 14, 2026, 19:50 local (Jun 15, 2026, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Meridian, MS · Field - Coordinates: 32.2715, -88.642167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2715&lon=-88.6422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Jackson FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203175/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203175 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA225 ## Probable cause The total loss of power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to verify the airplane’s fuel quantity before departure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103002), [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: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot instructed the fixed base operator line crew to top off the main tanks and fill the auxiliary tanks to ½ inch gap from the top of the tank. The pilot reported that he did not open the fuel caps to verify the fuel level. The flight departed with the pilot believing that sufficient fuel was onboard to complete the flight with an adequate reserve. Near the destination airport, the left engine began surging and subsequently lost power. The pilot's attempts to restore engine power, including the use of the auxiliary fuel tanks and electric fuel pump, were unsuccessful. Shortly thereafter, the right engine also began surging and lost power. After determining that the airplane could not reach the destination airport, the pilot conducted a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing rollout, the airplane collided with trees, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of either engine. In the accident report the pilot emphasized the importance of physically verifying fuel quantity before each flight, and reliance solely on assumptions regarding fuel quantity may increase the risk of fuel-related incidents. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8143Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8143Y), registered now, S/N 30-1254, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1254 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 5316 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tennave LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 2025 - Departed: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Destination: MEI, Meridian, MS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KMEI, Key Field - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 24, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,304 total, 478 in this make and model, 1,215 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KMEI, 6 nm away - METAR: KMEI 150058Z 23005KT 10SM CLR 29/23 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP134 T02940233 $ ## 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 20260614007379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260614007379A), Jun 14, 2026: Piper PA-30, Meridian, MS, Substantial damage. Accident occurred on 06-15-2026 at approximately 0040 UTC. A Piper PA30 twin comanchee) flown by PIC declared an emergency when left engine quit. The aircraft… ## Other investigations on N8143Y (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 CHI79FEE16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEE16), Dec 16, 1978: Piper PA-30 (N8143Y), Kankakee, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203175. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20866631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA225%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20877828&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA225%20MOR%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20881122&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA225%20photo%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. --- 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.