# NTSB ERA24LA081: Piper PA32, N722RM, Gordonville, PA, January 1, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 1, 2024, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Gordonville, PA - Coordinates: 40.024833, -76.128583 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0248&lon=-76.1286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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): 193597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management resulting in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and subsequent off-airport forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-32-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103212), [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-32-300, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103212), [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: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103212), [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-32-300, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After departing on the accident flight, the pilot moved the fuel selector from the left main fuel tank to the right wingtip fuel tank, and later the left wingtip fuel tank. With an estimated 20 minutes of flight time remaining, he attempted to select the right main fuel tank, but inadvertently selected the left main fuel tank. About 10 minutes later, began losing power. Despite the pilot’s efforts to troubleshoot the issue by activating the fuel pump and articulating the throttle, the engine lost power completely. The pilot then selected the right main fuel tank but was unable to restart the engine. He subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane struck wires and fence posts, substantially damaging the left wing, as well as the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that only 8 ounces of fuel remained in the left main fuel tank. While damage the left wing incurred during the accident compromised the integrity of the tank, there was no evidence of any fuel leakage. About 25 gallons of fuel remained in the right main fuel tank. The airframe fuel strainer contained about 2 ounces of uncontaminated fuel. Examination and operational testing of the fuel selector valve confirmed that the selector valve was functional in all positions and the indicator aligned properly in the detents. Based on this information, the pilot’s inadvertent selection of the left main fuel tank resulted in exhausting its fuel supply, and the subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N722RM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N722RM), registered now, S/N 32-7440140, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7440140 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 5987 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2023, 37 hours before - Departed: TGI, Tangier, VA - Destination: S37, Smoketown, PA - Airport: S37, Smoketown Airport - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review August 20, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,345 total, 638 in this make and model, 1,301 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KLNS, 10 nm away - METAR: KLNS 011929Z 32007KT 10SM SCT013 BKN043 OVC050 05/02 A3002 RMK AO2 RAE1858 P0000 T00500022 ## 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 20240101000389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240101000389A), Jan 1, 2024: Piper PA-32-300, Gordonville, PA, Substantial damage. The selected fuel tank was exhausted, resulting in an in-flight engine shut down. The pilot made an emergency landing in a field, impacting 2 fences causing… ## Other investigations on N722RM (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 CHI05CA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA087), Mar 28, 2005: Piper PA-32-300 (N722RM), Jeffersonville, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight of the aircraft by his failure to detect an open fuel drain which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. Contributing factors were the pilot's… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193597. 10.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16607169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Master%20Form%20N722RM-1_Updated_Recd%201%2016%202024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of conversations (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2 photos, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17695762&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 9 photos, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17696158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16607678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_N722RM%20ERA24LA081_Redacted-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.