# NTSB SEA07LA254: Piper PA-46-350P, N6070X, Corona, CA, September 7, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2007, 16:08 local (23:08 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Coordinates: 33.897777, -117.6025 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8978&lon=-117.6025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66636/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA254 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's fuel system mismanagement and failure to select a tank containing fuel. ## 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) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - not selected, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot initially reported that he departed with 6 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 16 gallons in the right tank. In a later statement he said the left tank contained 9 gallons and the right tank 20 gallons. As the airplane climbed through 500 feet, the engine sputtered and subsequently lost power. The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide and turned back to the airport. He attempted an engine restart with no success, then executed a forced landing to a construction site. The airplane touched down in rough terrain and the landing gear sheared off. Additionally, the left wing was bent up at the wing root, and the fuselage was wrinkled. When the salvage personnel recovered the airplane, they drained 16 gallons of fuel from the right wing and 1 cup of fuel from the left wing. Examination of the airplane found the fuel tanks intact and the fuel lines not compromised. Additionally, no fuel was found in the entire engine fuel system forward of the fuel selector. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2007, at 1608 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N6070X, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on initial climb from Corona Municipal Airport (AJO), Corona, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which had originated approximately 5 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot initially reported that he departed with 6 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 16 gallons in the right tank. In a later statement, he said the left tank had 9 gallons of fuel and the right tank had 20 gallons of fuel. As the airplane climbed through 500 feet, the engine "sputtered" and subsequently "quit." The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide and turned back to the airport. He attempted an engine restart with no success, and executed a forced landing to a construction site. The airplane touched down in rough terrain, and the landing gear sheared off. Additionally, the left wing was bent up at the wing root, and the fuselage was wrinkled. When the salvage personnel recovered the airplane, they drained 16 gallons of fuel from the right wing tank and 1 cup of fuel from the left wing tank. Examination of the airplane found the fuel tanks intact and the fuel lines not compromised. Additionally, no fuel was found in the entire engine fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6070X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6070X-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 4622126, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-350P - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4622126 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nicolas Steele - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2007 - Departed: AJO, Corona, CA - Destination: LGB, Long Beach, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 4,305 total, 52 in this make and model, 4,305 as pilot in command, 259 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: CNO, 6 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 20070907021949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070907021949A), Sep 7, 2007: Piper PA46350P, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) After take off at 600 feet the engine quit. Landed aircraft in an open field near Corona airport. 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.