# NTSB SEA03LA177: Piper PA-28-180, N33170, Nampa, ID, August 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 23, 2003 - Place: Nampa, ID - Coordinates: 43.578056, -116.519721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5781&lon=-116.5197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57763/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA177 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. A factor was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis As the airplane passed over the last airport on its route of flight where fuel was available, the pilot determined he was doing good on time and had plenty of fuel to reach his destination. On its final approach to the destination airport, and after having run out of fuel in one tank, the pilot switched over to the other tank. As the second tank's contents became exhausted, the pilot, in an attempt to keep the engine running, switched back and forth between tanks a couple of times; however, this proved unsuccessful and the aircraft's fuel supply was now entirely exhausted. Seeing that he would not make the runway, the pilot landed in a field just short of the runway. The lower right wing was substantially damaged as a result of an upward compression deformation of the wing structure. ## Factual narrative On August 23, 2003, approximately 1055 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N33170, was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power while on final approach to Runway 29 at the Nampa Municipal Airport (S67), Nampa, Idaho. The airplane was registered to G & B Aircraft Management of Woods Cross, Utah, and operated by the pilot. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight being operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Bountiful Sky Park Airport (BTF), Bountiful, Utah, at 0815. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that on the direct flight from BTF to S67 everything was going fine as he passed over Mountain Home airport, Mountain Home, Idaho, the last place where he could refuel. The pilot stated, "I was doing good on time and I was still showing plenty of fuel on the gauges." The pilot reported that as he came in for the approach to S67 he ran out of fuel in one tank. He then switched over and ran on the other tank for a minute before it was exhausted. The pilot said he switched back and forth a couple of times to get the last of the fuel. The pilot stated, "It was gone and I could see I wasn't going to make the runway." The pilot said that he established the airplane's pitch for "best glide" and landed in a field just short of the runway. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported the lower right wing was substantially damaged as a result of an upward compression deformation of the wing structure. Additional damage included the nose gear being folded back, and a 20" X 3" span-wise tear to the bottom of the left wing, approximately 3' inboard from the wingtip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33170](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33170), registered now, S/N 28-7505129, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-7505129 - Airframe hours: 3964 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 2003, 59 hours before - Departed: BTF, Bountiful, UT - Destination: S67, Nampa, ID - Airport: S67, Nampa Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 24, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 243 total, 120 in this make and model, 243 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: EUL, 1 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 20030823020309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030823020309A), Aug 23, 2003: Piper PA28180, Nampa, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot operated the aircraft from bountiful, Utah to the accident site 500 yards short of the Nampa airport runway. According to the aircraft hobbs meter… ## Other investigations on N33170 (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 DEN03LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA009), Oct 18, 2002: Piper PA-28-180 (N33170), Salt Lake City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to continue the flight without stopping for fuel. 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.