# NTSB GAA17CA233: Piper PA 34, N461RL, Llano, TX, April 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 11, 2017, 21:52 local (Apr 12, 2017, 02:52 UTC) - Place: Llano, TX - Coordinates: 30.784166, -98.660003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7842&lon=-98.6600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95009/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95009 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA233 ## Probable cause The pilot’s complacency during the en route phase of flight, which resulted in fuel mismanagement and a subsequent gear-up landing. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [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-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: complacency](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the multiengine, retractable-gear-equipped airplane reported that he was flying in instrument meteorological conditions and leveled off at 8,000 ft mean sea level. He began to configure the airplane for cruise flight, and he realized that the right engine cross-feed fuel selector was positioned for the left tank. The left tank fuel indicator displayed empty, and the right fuel indicator displayed 45 gallons remaining. He believed that the fuel indicators had malfunctioned, and he established an approach to a nearby highway intersection. The pilot landed with the landing gear stowed on the asphalt highway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that he became complacent during the flight and vowed to use a checklist in the future. The pilot has coordinated with his local Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team to help prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the multi-engine, retractable gear-equipped airplane reported that he was flying in instrument meteorological conditions and leveled off at 8,000 ft. mean sea level. He began to configure the airplane for cruise flight and he realized that the right engine cross-feed fuel selector was positioned for the left tank. The left tank fuel indicator displayed empty and the right fuel indicator displayed 45 gallons remained. He believed that the fuel indicators had malfunctioned and he established an approach to a nearby highway intersection. The pilot landed with the landing gear stowed on the asphalt highway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons. Per the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that he became complacent during the flight and vowed to use a checklist in the future. At the recommendation of the NTSB Investigator-in-charge, the pilot has coordinated with his local Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team to help prevent accidents in kind from occurring in the future. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N461RL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N461RL-2018-08-20), registration cancelled 2018-08-20, S/N 34-8170001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 34 (200T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-8170001 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 5021.5 - Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO360EB1 220 horsepower reciprocating; Teledyne Continental LTSIO360EB1 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Claiborne Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Claiborne Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 2016 - Departed: KDZB, Horseshoe Bay, TX - Destination: KJST, San Angelo, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AQO, Llano Muni - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,735 total, 27 in this make and model, 5,621 as pilot in command, 136.8 in the last 90 days, 54.2 in the last 30 days, 4.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KAQO ## 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 20170411003919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170411003919A), Apr 11, 2017: Piper PA-34-200T, Llano, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed kdzb horse shoe bay, Texas enroute to ksjt san angelo, Texas. Ten minutes into the flight the pilot declared an emergency, pilot stated he… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95009. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.