# NTSB ERA21LA273: Piper PA-28-180, N818TF, Woodland, TN, June 28, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 28, 2021, 16:48 local (21:48 UTC) - Place: Woodland, TN · Wooded rural area. - Coordinates: 35.590358, -89.100681 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5904&lon=-89.1007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 103370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103370/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103370 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA273 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate monitoring of his fuel state during a solo training flight, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a forced landing. ## 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-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102808), [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-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo-student pilot reported that, during his preflight inspection, the fuel level was “…just below the tabs in each wing.” He later reported that he took off with 24 gallons of fuel on board and the fuel capacity of the airplane was 50 gallons. Takeoff, departure, and enroute operations were uneventful. About one hour into the flight, he noted a loss of engine power. He attempted to maintain glide speed while pumping the throttle to regain power. Unable to regain power, he looked for an area to perform a forced landing. While approaching a field, the airspeed decreased to near stall speed and the airplane struck tress before reaching the open field. The airplane impacted the trees and came to rest in a nose low attitude. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and confirmed that damage to the fuselage and wings was substantial. The fuel selector was on the right tank position, and the right tank was uncompromised and empty of fuel. The left tank contained about 15 gallons of fuel. The pilot later reported that he never switched from the right tank during flight, and he failed to monitor his fuel status and allowed the fuel in the right tank to “burn out.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N818TF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818TF-2022-07-30), registration cancelled 2022-07-30, S/N 28-4031, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4031 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 6533 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Old School Aircraft LLC - Registered owner: Old School Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2021 - Departed: KLR, Jackson, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KMKL, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KMKL 282153Z 15006KT 10SM FEW070 SCT110 30/21 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP192 T03000206 ## 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 20210628011049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210628011049A), Jun 28, 2021: Piper PA-28-180, Jackson, TN, Substantial damage. The accident involving N818TF, a Piper cherokee 180, occurred at approximately 2148Z (1648 local) on June 28, 2021. The accident occurred at location latitude… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103370. 20.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556870&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Revised written statement from pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12555808&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Revised%20Statement-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - pilot interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556571&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556467&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Excerpt - maintenance logbook (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20-%20Maintenance%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 12.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12556581&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.