# NTSB GAA15CA137: Piper PA 24, N5152P, Charles City, IA, June 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2015, 19:00 local (Jun 25, 2015, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Charles City, IA - Coordinates: 43.072498, -92.610832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0725&lon=-92.6108&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91434 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91434/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91434 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate pre-flight fuel planning resulting in fuel exhaustion and a collision with terrain. ## 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-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102402), [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-24, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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-24, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102402), [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-24, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight, "the airplane had a complete loss of engine power", and that he made several attempts to restart the engine that were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a field where the airplane came to rest after impacting terrain. A post-accident inspection by Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspectors revealed that the airplane did not have any usable fuel remaining in its tanks at the time of impact, and that the fuel tanks were undamaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight, "the airplane had a complete loss of engine power", and that he made several attempts to restart the engine that were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a field where the airplane came to rest after impacting terrain. A post-accident inspection by Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspectors revealed that the airplane did not have any usable fuel remaining in its tanks at the time of impact, and that the fuel tanks were undamaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5152P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5152P-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 24-168, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 24 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (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: 24-168 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 5288 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Celebrations Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Celebrations Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2014, 57 hours before - Departed: 00MN, BATTLE LAKE, MN - Destination: OLZ, OELWEIN, IA - Airport: CCY, Charles City Regional - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,032.5 total, 332.6 in this make and model, 26.6 in the last 90 days, 14.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KCCY, 2 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91434. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.