# NTSB GAA20CA017: Piper PA28, N8078X, Dayton, OH, October 10, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 10, 2019, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Dayton, OH - Coordinates: 39.58889, -84.224723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5889&lon=-84.2247&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and an off-airport landing, during which the airplane struck a vehicle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-28-181, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7102807), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that she was working toward a commercial certificate with a safety pilot onboard. During the final approach, the airplane's altitude was low, and she added power by moving the throttle but "nothing happened." The safety pilot took the controls and made a forced landing on a highway. During the landing, the airplane struck a vehicle. Both pilots reported that they were not sure why the engine lost power. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane reported that the fuel tank selector was positioned to the left tank. The fuel pump and carburetor float bowl each had less than an ounce of fuel. The left wing tank did not contain any usable fuel, and no sign of fuel was found on the ground postimpact. The right tank contained about 12 gallons of fuel. ## Factual narrative According to the instrument rated private pilot, she was working toward a commercial certificate, conducting an instrument cross-country flight in VFR conditions with a safety pilot. During the final approach the airplane's altitude was low and she added power by moving the throttle but "nothing happened." The safety pilot in the right seat took the controls and made a forced landing on a highway. During the landing the airplane struck a vehicle. The private pilot and the safety pilot reported that they were not sure why the engine lost power. The private pilot reported that the accident flight was the second and return leg of the IFR cross-country flight. Additionally, the private pilot reported that the airplane had been "topped off" prior to the flight, which was about 181 nautical miles to their destination. During preflight for the return leg, she affirmed that she visually checked the fuel quantity in each tank and, "it was at the tabs". She completed a fuel sample and they departed for the return flight. According to the FAA Inspector that performed the post-accident airplane examination, during the examination, he observed that the fuel tank selector was set to the left tank. The fuel pump and carburetor float bowl had less than an ounce of fuel in each. The left wing tank did not contain any usable fuel and there was no sign of fuel on the ground post impact. The right tank contained about 12 gallons of fuel. According to the manufacturer's pilot operator handbook, per Chapter 3, the first step of the Engine Power Loss In Flight emergency procedure state: Fuel Selector…………………switch to tank containing fuel The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8078X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8078X-2023-04-11), registration cancelled 2023-04-11, S/N 28-8090075, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-8090075 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aviation Sales Inc - Registered owner: Aviation Sales Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OBE, Coldwater, MI - Destination: MGY, Dayton, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MGY, Dayton-Wright Brothers, runway 20, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 158 total, 158 in this make and model, 69 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KMGY ## 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 20191010023459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191010023459A), Oct 10, 2019: Piper PA-28-181, Dayton, OH, Substantial damage. On Thursday, October 10, 2019, at approximately 1553 EDT, a Piper archer PA-28 aircraft, registration n-number N8078X, was returning to Dayton south airport… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100416. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480080&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.