# NTSB LAX00LA088: Piper PA-32-300, N1452T, Ukiah, CA, February 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2000, 08:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Ukiah, CA - Coordinates: 38.710628, -123.329193 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7106&lon=-123.3292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48671 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48671/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA088 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to comply with the checklists in the Owner's Handbook, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not complied with, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, climb - In flight collision with object, landing - object - fence ## Analysis Fuel levels in both fuel tanks were 1 inch from the top of the filler neck when the airplane departed Hayward, California, en route to Ukiah. The right tank was selected for the flight to Ukiah, the landing, and the subsequent takeoff for the return trip to Hayward. A right turn was initiated after departure from runway 33 at an altitude of 400 feet agl. Passing through 500 feet, the pilot encountered a power fluctuation, which concerned him enough to continue his turn to set up for a landing on runway 15. The engine then quit producing power, and the pilot set up a glide to attempt a return to the airport. After advancing the mixture, throttle, and propeller controls, he verified the ignition was on, but did not have time to switch fuel tanks. The airplane collided with a fence along the airport boundary. The FAA accident coordinator observed the fuel selector on the right tank and drained 12 ounces of fuel from that tank. The fuel inlet line to the engine was examined and no fuel was present. The left tank fuel level was 1 inch below the filler neck. The takeoff and approach and landing checklists in the Owner's Handbook instruct the pilot to select the fullest tank for landing and the proper tank for takeoff. ## Factual narrative On February 15, 2000, about 0830 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N1452T, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff from Ukiah, California. The owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and his private pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated fuel levels in both fuel tanks were 1 inch from the top of the filler neck when the airplane departed Hayward, California, en route to Ukiah. He told the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator the right tank was selected for the flight to Ukiah, the landing, and the subsequent takeoff for the return trip to Hayward. The pilot stated he initiated a right turn after departure from runway 33 at an altitude of 400 feet agl. Passing through 500 feet, he encountered a power fluctuation, which concerned him enough to continue his turn to set up for a landing on runway 15. The engine then quit producing power, and the pilot set up a glide to attempt a return to the airport. After advancing the mixture, throttle, and propeller controls, he verified the ignition was on, but did not have time to switch fuel tanks. The airplane collided with a fence along the airport boundary. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator inspected the airplane and observed the fuel selector on the right tank and drained 12 ounces of fuel from that tank. The fuel inlet line to the engine was examined and no fuel was present. The left tank fuel level was 1 inch below the filler neck. The takeoff and the approach and landing checklists in the Owner's Handbook instruct the pilot to select the fullest tank prior to landing and the proper tank for takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1452T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1452T), registered now, S/N 32-7240122 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: H. James Knuppe - Departed: UKI - Destination: HWD, HAYWARD, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 0° at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: UKI 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.