# NTSB ERA26LA273: Piper PA-28-180, N9758J, Linneus, ME, July 15, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 15, 2026, 14:59 local (18:59 UTC) - Place: Linneus, ME - Coordinates: 46, -68 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0000&lon=-68.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 1, 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): 203417 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203417/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203417 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA273 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight and in-flight monitoring of the fuel quantity, 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. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/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 exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he completed a preflight inspection but did not visually check the fuel quantity. Instead, he assumed the fuel was “at the tabs.” While completing the cockpit checklist he noted that the fuel gauges indicated about three-quarters full, but he did not check them again during the flight. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to 9,500 ft mean sea level to avoid reported turbulence below 5,000 ft. During the flight, he switched between the fuel tanks when prompted by his yoke-mounted GPS. He reported that personal matters and cellphone use distracted him. When the fuel in the right tank was depleted, he turned toward the nearest airport. The fuel in the left tank was then depleted, the engine lost power, and the pilot began an emergency descent. During the descent, the pilot identified a logging road for a forced landing. He was initially too high and made a left circling turn to line up with the road. The airplane struck trees and came to rest next to the road. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9758J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9758J), registered now, S/N 28-3950, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-3950 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: Lycoming 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 6B0, Middlebury, VT - Airport: 85B - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 36,000 total, 250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.53 inHg - Observed at: HUL, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KHUL 151853Z AUTO 28009G18KT 10SM SCT080 26/09 A2953 RMK AO2 PK WND 27026/1832 SLP999 T02560089 ## 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 20260715008599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260715008599A), Jul 15, 2026: Piper PA-28-180, Patten, ME, Substantial damage. While en route from 6B0 to pqi, the pilot of Piper PA28-180, [privacy data omitted], reported experiencing fuel exhaustion and attempted to divert to mlt. At… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203417. 485 KB in all. - Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20911428&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Statement%20LA273_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20911955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR%20LA273%20V2-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20895622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA273-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.