# NTSB ERA13LA364: Piper PA-22-150, N6919B, Indian Trail, NC, August 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2013, 19:47 local (23:47 UTC) - Place: Indian Trail, NC - Coordinates: 35.108612, -80.623054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1086&lon=-80.6231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 7, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87803/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87803 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA364 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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-22-150, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102210), [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-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102210), [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. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102210), [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) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After departure for the cross-country flight, the airplane climbed to and then cruised at an altitude of 7,500 feet; it then climbed to and cruised at an altitude of 9,500 feet. Near the end of the nearly 5-hour flight, about 3 nautical miles from the destination airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot cycled the fuel selector from the left wing tank to the right wing tank and back, but engine power was not restored. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane touched down and struck a barbed wire fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing and elevator, and then it came to rest upright. Examination of the left wing, right wing, and fuselage fuel tanks revealed no fuel in any of the fuel tanks. No fuel odor was noted, and no evidence of fuel spillage was found at the scene. The airplane was refueled, and the continuity of the 44-gallon fuel system was confirmed. Using the airplane's battery and fuel system, the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. According to the Owners Handbook, the fuel consumption rate at 75-percent power was 9 gallons per hour at sea level, and consumption rates increased with altitude even with the mixture properly leaned. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2013, about 1947 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6919B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power two nautical miles west of Goose Creek Airport (28A), Indian Trail, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by an individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP), Tupelo, Mississippi, at 1405 CDT. The pilot stated he departed with 44 gallons of fuel on board. After departure, the airplane climbed to and then cruised at an altitude of 7,500 feet, before it was climbed to and then cruised at 9,500 feet. At the conclusion of the flight, while descending through 1,500 feet for landing at 28A, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot cycled the fuel selector from the left wing tank to the right wing tank and back again. He did not attempt to restart the engine, but did engage the starter to change the propeller position. The pilot identified a field for the forced landing, where the airplane touched down and struck a barbed wire fence before it came to rest. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector revealed substantial damage to the elevator and right wing leading edge. The right fuel tank gauge indicated empty, while the left fuel tank gauge indicated below ¼-full. The pilot held an airline transport certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land and instrument airplane. He reported 5,533 total hours of flight experience, of which 40 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on June 24, 2013. The airplane was manufactured in 1956 and was equipped with a Lycoming O-320 Series, 180-horsepower reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on February 14, 2013 at 5,048 total aircraft hours. The engine had accumulated 1,164 total hours of operation since its most recent overhaul. On August 20, 2013, the FAA inspector serviced the airplane with fuel, and continuity of the airplane's 44.0 gallon fuel system was confirmed. Utilizing the airplane's battery and fuel system, the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. According to the Piper PA-22-150 Owners Handbook, at sea level, the fuel consumption rate at 75-percent power was 9 gallons per hour. The handbook further illustrated, "Fuel consumption during sea level cruising is given on the chart. The consumption is determined by the various flight conditions. At 75 [percent] of power at altitude, fuel consumption will be somewhat higher than at that power setting at sea level, even with the mixture properly leaned." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6919B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6919B), registered now, S/N 22-4194 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4194 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 5048 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Darrell Hogue - Registered owner: Darrell Hogue - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2013, 5,058 hours before - Departed: TUP, Tupelo, MS - Destination: 28A, Indian Trail, NC - Airport: 28A, Goose Creek ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,533 total, 40 in this make and model, 2,715 as pilot in command, 2.5 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: EQY, 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 20130816015369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130816015369A), Aug 16, 2013: Piper PA-22-150, Indian Trail, NC, Substantial damage. On August 16, 2013, about 1947 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6919B, serial number 22-4194, was substantially damaged during a forced landing,… ## Other investigations on N6919B (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 UNK64X0216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0216), Jan 11, 1964: Piper PA22 (N6919B), Spingfield, VT, substantial damage ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87803. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399479&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record, FAA Initial Examination & Engine Test (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record,%20FAA%20Initial%20Examination%20%26%20Engine%20Test-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399482&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement to Highway Patrol (item 4, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20Highway%20Patrol-Redacted.PDF - Accident Airplane Flight Information, Flightaware (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Airplane%20Flight%20Information,%20Flightaware-Master.PDF - N6919B Fuel Receipt, Tupelo (item 6, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=N6919B%20Fuel%20Receipt,%20Tupelo-Redacted.PDF - PA-22-150 Fuel System from POH (item 7, .PDF, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=PA-22-150%20Fuel%20System%20from%20POH-Master.PDF - Map of Flight Route and Destination Airport, Flightaware (item 8, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Flight%20Route%20and%20Destination%20Airport,%20Flightaware-Master.PDF - Photograph #1: View of Airplane at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%231%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph #2: View of Airplane Empennage From Port Side (Courtesy of FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405981&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%232%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Empennage%20From%20Port%20Side%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.