# NTSB LAX02LA095: Piper PA-24-250, N7604P, San Jose, CA, February 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 2002, 16:35 local (Feb 25, 2002, 00:35 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.299446, -121.803054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2994&lon=-121.8031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54250 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54250/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54250 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning and improper fuel consumption calculation, which resulted in 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, approach - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - vehicle ## Analysis Upon exhausting the airplane's fuel on approach to the destination airport, the pilot made a forced landing on a street and collided with an automobile. The pilot subsequently reported that he had not refueled the airplane prior to departing on the return portion of a round-robin cross country flight. The pilot also reported that he had evidently miscalculated the airplane engine's fuel consumption rate. According to the pilot, no mechanical malfunction was experienced during the flight. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 2002, about 1635 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7604P, experienced a total loss of engine power on approach to the Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, California. The pilot made a forced landing on a street about 2 miles from the airport and collided with an automobile. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the automobile occupants nor the commercial pilot was injured. The airplane was operated by Amelia Reid Aviation, San Jose. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Santa Barbara, California, about 1500. The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the airplane's fuel tanks were full upon his departure from San Jose earlier in the day. He flew to Santa Barbara and did not refuel the airplane. Thereafter, the pilot attempted to fly back to San Jose. The pilot indicated that he evidently had just "miscalculated" the airplane engine's fuel burn off rate and had exhausted the available fuel. The pilot did not report that he had experienced any mechanical malfunction with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7604P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7604P-2004-08-28), registration cancelled 2004-08-28, S/N 24-2815, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2815 - Airframe hours: 2562 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Amelia Reid Aviation, doing business as Amelia Reid Aviation - Registered owner: Amelia C. Reid - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2002, 5 hours before - Departed: SBA, Santa Barbara, CA - Destination: RHV, San Jose, CA - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview of Santa ClaraCo ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 24, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 15 in this make and model, 2,306 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: RHV, 2 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 20020224003209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020224003209A), Feb 24, 2002: Piper PA24250, Sanjose, CA, No damage. (.19) On February 24, 2002, about 1635 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7604P, experienced a total loss of engine power about 2 miles southeast… ## Other investigations on N7604P (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI75FEI14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75FEI14), Nov 17, 1974: Piper PA-24 (N7604P), Beach City, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54250. 611 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Transcript of Radio Communications (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40210411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Transcript%20of%20Radio%20Communications-Master.PDF - FAA Report of Aircraft Accident (item 3, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390140&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report%20of%20Aircraft%20Accident-Redacted.PDF - FAA Personnel Statement (item 4, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Personnel%20Statement-Redacted.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.