# NTSB ERA22LA028: Piper PA-24-250, N7371P, Sligo, PA, October 23, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 23, 2021, 09:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Sligo, PA - Coordinates: 41.1466, -79.466 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1466&lon=-79.4660&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: 2 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): 104155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104155/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104155 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA028 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilots mismanagement of fuel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/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-24-250, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight when the engine lost full power. The pilot reported that he did not have enough time to attempt a restart of the engine or to switch fuel tanks, due to the low altitude of the airplane. He elected to conduct an off-field emergency landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the left outboard wing, right horizontal stabilizer and fuselage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the fuel selector was positioned on the right fuel tank- AUX position. The right fuel tank-AUX fuel tank was checked, and no fuel was discovered in the tank, however, about 75 gallons of fuel was drained from the remaining tanks. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that took off on the right AUX tank. The post-accident examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7371P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7371P), registered now, S/N 24-2552, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2552 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 5913 - Engines: Lycoming O540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 23, 2021, 23 hours before - Departed: YNG, Youngstown, OH - Destination: HXD, Hilton Head Island, SC - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 352 total, 32 in this make and model, 194 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: Cleveland Center ## 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 20211023018089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211023018089A), Oct 23, 2021: Piper PA-24-250, Sligo, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot departed yng en-route to hxd with full fuel. The pilot decided to cruise at alt 3500'. Pilot stated, he left yng on the rt main tank, approximately 30… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104155. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12991141&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA028_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12990851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Bosely%20LA028-Rel.pdf - FAA memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12991403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA028%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12990452&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA028-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.