# NTSB ERA26LA190: Piper PA-30, N8432Y, Enterprise, AL, April 26, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 26, 2026, 16:59 UTC - Place: Enterprise, AL - Coordinates: 31.287132, -85.921003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2871&lon=-85.9210&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2026 - 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): 202894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202894/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202894 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA190 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing into trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103002), [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-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103002), [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-30, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight in the multiengine airplane was to build proficiency and to take an acquaintance, who was not a pilot, on a familiarization flight. The pilot described that before departing the airplane had 22 gallons of fuel in the main fuel tanks, and 15 gallons of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tanks, and that the entire flight was conducted utilizing the main fuel tanks. The pilot flew over a practice area for 20 minutes and then returned to the departure airport where he performed two uneventful touch-and-go landings. The pilot added that he miscalculated the fuel consumption rate and thought about 15 minutes of fuel remained for the third landing, which would have been full-stop. He further stated that while turning from the downwind to the base leg of the airport traffic pattern for the third landing, both engines lost total power. The pilot turned toward the runway and attempted to restart one of the engines; however, the attempt was unsuccessful and the airplane impacted trees about ½-mile short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8432Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8432Y), registered now, S/N 30-1591, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1591 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 5942 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2025, 38 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EDN, Enterprise Muni, runway 05/23, 5,080 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, military, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, powered-lift, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,722 total, 18 in this make and model, 3,562 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 29,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: SXS, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KSXS 261655Z AUTO 32007KT 10SM FEW039 SCT050 SCT190 BKN290 BKN330 28/17 A2991 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W SLP127 T02770169 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202894. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20315278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120v1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, flight instructor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20307618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-FI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigatvie photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20308875&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, passenger (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20314947&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-passenger_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.