# NTSB ERA20CA317: Piper PA25, N7366Z, Destin, FL, September 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2020, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Destin, FL - Coordinates: 30.394721, -86.470275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3947&lon=-86.4703&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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101969/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101969 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA317 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to manage the available fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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-25-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a routine banner tow flight in an airplane equipped with a main fuel tank as well as an auxiliary fuel tank that transferred fuel to the main fuel tank via a manually activated fuel pump. The pilot was distracted due to the air traffic control and the volume of air traffic in the area, and stated that he did not activate the auxiliary fuel tank transfer pump at the turnaround point where he typically would have during other banner tow flights. After about 3 hours of flight time, the engine lost power. The pilot was unsuccessful in his attempts to restart the engine, which included activating the fuel transfer pump during the descent. He subsequently ditched the airplane into the Gulf of Mexico, during which both of the airplane’s wings were substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7366Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7366Z), registered now, S/N 25-3320, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA25 (235) - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-B2B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-b2b5) (registry code 42337, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-3320 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 8012.52 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 22, 2020 - Departed: ECP, Panama City, FL - Destination: ECP, Panama City, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 624.4 total, 273.7 in this make and model, 182.5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: DTS ## 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 20200910013939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200910013939A), Sep 10, 2020: Piper PA-25-235, Okaloosa Island, FL, Substantial damage. While in a climb to 1000 ft., towing a banner, the aircraft's engine quit. The pilot managed to land the aircraft in the gulf of Mexico just off of the beach… ## Other investigations on N7366Z (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 CHI65F0097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65F0097), Apr 11, 1965: Piper PA-25 (N7366Z), Berlin, KY, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101969. 19.2 MB in all. - Written statement - pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 17.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11376760&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PILOT%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11395723&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=INSPECTOR%20STATEMENT%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11395475&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. --- 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.