# NTSB ERA20TA046: Piper PA28, N558PU, Vero Beach, FL, December 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: December 2, 2019, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Coordinates: 27.645833, -80.42778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6458&lon=-80.4278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100643 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20TA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100643/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100643 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20TA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, 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-28-161, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102803), [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-28-161, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102803), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the cross-country flight, the pilot completed the first leg using the left fuel tank only. While in the traffic pattern at his destination airport, the engine lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field and the airplane was substantially damaged after colliding with a tree. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and undamaged; the fuel selector handle was on the left tank. The right tank was full. Thus, it is likely that the engine was starved of fuel when the fuel supply in the left wing tank was exhausted. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 2019, about 1240 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N558PU, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a field at Vero Beach, Florida. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by FlightSafety International under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo-instructional flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated at La Belle Municipal Airport (X14), La Belle, Florida about 1130 and was destined for Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB), Vero Beach, Florida. According to the operator, the pilot departed VRB earlier in the day for a solo, cross-country flight. He took off from VRB with full fuel tanks (48 useable gallons) and landed uneventfully at X14. He intended to switch fuel tanks one hour into the flight, contrary to the flight school's policy of every 30 minutes. He forgot to switch tanks prior to landing at X14 and did not switch tanks on the ground at X14 prior to departure. During the return flight to VRB, he again did not switch fuel tanks. While in the traffic pattern at VRB, the engine lost all power. Unable to glide to runway 4, he performed a forced landing in a field to the south of the airport. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a tree, separating the left wing from the airframe. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. Both wings and the fuselage were structurally damaged. The left wing fuel tank was not breached and contained no fuel. The right wing fuel tank was completely full of fuel. The cockpit fuel selector handle was found in the left tank position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N558PU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N558PU-2021-04-03), registration cancelled 2021-04-03, S/N 2842095, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2842095 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 11751 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flightsafety International Inc - Registered owner: Flightsafety International Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 2019, 55 hours before - Departed: X14, La Belle, FL - Destination: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Regional, runway 30L, 7,314 × 106 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 140 total, 140 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 18 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KVRB, 1 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 20191202021999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191202021999A), Dec 2, 2019: Piper PA-28-161, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed. Accident happened on 12/02/2019 at about 12:30 local time, while descending to land at the Vero Beach, FL airport, after a cross-country flight of about 2.5 to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100643. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Written%20Statement-Master.PDF - NTSB Memorandum of Record - Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 296 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector%20-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 820 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.