# NTSB LAX08CA166: Piper PA-38-112, N9276T, Kykotsmovi, AZ, June 7, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 7, 2008, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Kykotsmovi, AZ - Coordinates: 35.870277, -110.601669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8703&lon=-110.6017&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68189 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68189/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA166 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to ensure that adequate fuel was onboard to complete the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot believed he took off with 14 gallons of fuel aboard, and flew toward his destination, 170 miles away. He calculated that the fight should take 1 hour 40 minutes. En route he noticed that fuel was disappearing quickly, and assumed there was a headwind. After 1 hour 40 minutes, the airplane ran out of fuel, 57 statute miles from his destination, and the pilot landed in the desert. At a fuel consumption rate of 5.3 gallons per hour, the total actual fuel aboard at the time of takeoff was most likely 9 gallons. ## Factual narrative In a written statement, the pilot reported that he took off with 14 gallons of fuel on board. The flight south from Bull Frog Basin Airport, Utah, to Winslow, Arizona, should have taken 1 hour 40 minutes, with a fuel consumption of 5.3 gallons per hour. The pilot noticed that fuel was disappearing quickly and assumed there was a headwind. After 1 hour 40 minutes (1.7 hours), the airplane ran out of fuel 57 statute miles north of Winslow, and landed in the desert. The straight line distance between Bull Frog Basin Airport and Winslow is 170 statute miles. At 1700, winds aloft at Flagstaff were reported from 225 degrees at 21 knots, at 8,000 feet mean sea level (msl). At 10,000 feet msl, winds were reported from 230 degrees at 29 knots. Using a fuel consumption rate of 5.3 gallons per hour, a 1.7-hour flight would consume 9 gallons of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9276T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9276T-2008-07-29), registration cancelled 2008-07-29, S/N 38-78A0313, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0313 - Airframe hours: 5221 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 126 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Barry W. McDaniel - Registered owner: Barry W. McDaniel and Anthony Decastro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2007 - Departed: KU07, Bull Frog, UT - Destination: KINW, Winslow, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 1, 2007; flight hours: 308 total, 233 in this make and model, 195 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20080607839899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080607839899A), Jun 7, 2008: Piper PA38112, Hopi Reservati, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed U07 at 1000 MST for a flight to inw, for refueling on his way to chd. At 1 hour 40 minutes into the flight at 8500' AGL, the aircraft ran… 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.