# NTSB GAA19CA272: Piper PA28, N6753W, Maitland, FL, May 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 16, 2019, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Maitland, FL - Coordinates: 28.629999, -81.389442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6300&lon=-81.3894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99460/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99460 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA272 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, the total loss of engine power, and subsequent impact with a car during an emergency landing on a road. ## 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-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/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); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, about 10 miles from the destination airport, the engine lost all power. He switched to the other fuel tank and successfully restarted the engine. About 6 miles from the airport, the engine lost power again. The pilot then decided to land the airplane on a highway, but just before touchdown, the airplane struck a car, spun, and then impacted the road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that no fuel was found in either tank. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, about 10 miles from his destination airport, the engine had a total loss of power. He switched to the other fuel tank and successfully restarted the engine. About 6 miles out, the engine had another total loss of power. He then decided to land the airplane on a highway, but just before touchdown, the airplane struck a car, spun, and impacted the road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that no fuel was found in both tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6753W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6753W-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 28-20877, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (140) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-20877 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: KAND, Anderson, SC - Destination: ORL, Orlando, FL - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 1,894 total, 651 in this make and model, 1,770 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KORL, 6 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 20190516004409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190516004409A), May 16, 2019: Piper PA-28-140, Maitland, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot departed anderson, SC (and) with left and right tanks full of fuel with a planned destination to orlando executive (orl). The pilot stated it had been… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99460. 826 KB in all. - Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 491 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.