# NTSB ERA23LA054: Piper PA-28, N8667W, Tanner, AL, November 2, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 2, 2022, 17:07, time zone not recorded - Place: Tanner, AL - Coordinates: 34.667231, -86.945621 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6672&lon=-86.9456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - 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): 106269 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106269/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106269 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate inflight fuel management, 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. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102810), [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. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the cross-country flight he noticed his fuel consumption was higher than he had expected. After entering the traffic pattern at the destination airport, and while turning from base to final, the engine “sputtered.” He switched from the right to the left fuel tank and attempted to restart the engine, however, engine power was not restored. The pilot conducted a forced landing in a field and touched down hard short of the runway threshold, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident was unable to verify the presence of fuel in either the right or left fuel tanks. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he needed to, “Establish a not to exceed minimum fuel level for continued flight.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8667W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8667W-2024-02-03), registration cancelled 2024-02-03, S/N 28-10193, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 (235) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10193 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 5856.6 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2022, 10 hours before - Departed: MLJ, Milledgeville, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DCU, Pryor Field Regional - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 158 total, 61 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: DCU, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KDCU 022153Z AUTO 21003KT 10SM CLR 23/08 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP227 T02330083= ## 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 20221102016599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221102016599A), Nov 2, 2022: Piper PA-28, Tanner, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot entered the traffic pattern at dcu with the intention of landing. Upon turning final for the runway, the engine sputtered, then eventually quit. Pilot… ## Other investigations on N8667W (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 MKC66F0390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66F0390), Oct 18, 1965: Piper PA-28 (N8667W), Grand Island, NE, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106269. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14756687&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14743407&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA fuel examination (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14743813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20FAA%20Fuel%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14743425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Photo%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.