# NTSB ERA23LA089: Piper PA-38-112, N498DS, Rockingham, NC, December 13, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 13, 2022, 10:55, time zone not recorded - Place: Rockingham, NC - Coordinates: 34.859722, -79.752778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8597&lon=-79.7528&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: 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): 106461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106461/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106461 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion 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 level; cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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-38-112, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after flying for about 4 hours, the engine lost total power about 2 miles form the destination airport and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and right wing. The pilot described that the fuel consumption during the accident flight was higher than he had expected based on the fuel consumption that he had calculated on previous flights. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident and confirmed that both of the fuel tanks were absent of fuel. In the “Recommendation” section of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report, the pilot stated that “a more accurate way to determine actual fuel on board and a higher reserve might have prevented this accident.” Based on this information, it’s likely that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N498DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N498DS-2024-03-30), registration cancelled 2024-03-30, S/N 38-79A0668, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-79A0668 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3555 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-LCZ reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gombey Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2021 - Departed: SFB, Orlando, FL - Destination: RCZ, Rockingham, NC - Airport: RCZ, Richmond County - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 8, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18,150 total, 355 in this make and model, 8,087 as pilot in command, 228 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: RCZ, 2 nm away - METAR: KRCZ 131515Z AUTO 05005KT 10SM CLR 05/M01 A3035 RMK AO2 T00471014 ## 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 20221213022399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221213022399A), Dec 13, 2022: Piper PA-38-112, Rockingham, NC, Substantial damage. On 12/13/2022 at approximately 1100 local time, a Piper tomahawk PA-38-112 sustained substantial damage after exhausting its fuel supply and landing in a field… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106461. 3.9 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=14963575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N498DS%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14964888&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA089%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector interview summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14965696&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA089%20FAA%20Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14964492&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA089-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.