# NTSB GAA16CA347: Piper PA 12, N223CG, Burnet, TX, June 22, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2016, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Burnet, TX
- Coordinates: 30.747222, -98.234443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7472&lon=-98.2344&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA347
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93505/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93505
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA347

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate fuel levels, which resulted in fuel starvation, a loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to monitor the fuel levels.

## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor of the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that after an instructional lesson, while returning to the airport, the student pilot was too low "while turning base leg" of the traffic pattern so the student pilot moved the throttle forward to add power, but the engine did not respond. The flight instructor further reported that he took control of the airplane and made an off airport landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted a low hanging tree limb. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector revealed that the fuel tanks contained less than one gallon of fuel on board the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor of the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that after an instructional lesson, while returning to the airport, the student pilot was too low "while turning base leg" of the traffic pattern so the student pilot moved the throttle forward to add power, but the engine did not respond. The flight instructor further reported that he took control of the airplane and made an off airport landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted a low hanging tree limb. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector revealed that the fuel tanks contained less than one gallon of fuel on board the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N223CG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N223CG), registered now, S/N 12-2480, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 12 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2b) (registry code 42138, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2480
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 4960.3
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 27, 2016
- Departed: BMQ, Burnet, TX
- Destination: BMQ, Burnet, TX
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: BMQ, Burnet Muni Kate Craddock Fiel
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2015; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,433 total, 196 in this make and model, 2,279 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2015; seat: front; flight hours: 330 total, 8 in this make and model, 207 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KBMQ, 1 nm away

## 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 20160622015329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160622015329A), Jun 22, 2016: Piper PA-12, Burnett, TX, Substantial damage. While pilot was turning downwind to base leg for runway 19 at Burnett Texas (kbmq) and descending pilot attempted to add power but the engine had stopped…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93505. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 483 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF
- FAA Email (item 4, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Email-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.

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