# NTSB SEA08CA152: Piper PA-24-250, N6235P, Vernal, UT, June 18, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2008, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Vernal, UT - Coordinates: 40.441112, -109.510002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4411&lon=-109.5100&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 68247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68247/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA152 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify the airplane's fuel quantity during his preflight, resulting in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the presence of a vehicle on the road where the pilot executed his forced landing. ## 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-24-250, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/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-24-250, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise flight, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot, who did not visually inspect or measure the fuel quantity in each tank prior to takeoff, successfully landed the airplane on a state highway, but the airplane's left wing impacted a vehicle just prior to the airplane coming to a stop. ## Factual narrative During cruise flight, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot, who did not visually inspect or measure the fuel quantity in each tank prior to takeoff, successfully landed the airplane on a state highway, but the airplane's left wing impacted a vehicle just prior to the airplane coming to a stop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6235P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6235P-2010-09-07), registration cancelled 2010-09-07, S/N 24-1340, built 1959 (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: 24-1340 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Barton P. Hyde - Registered owner: Urie and Madi Lebaron - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 42U, Mountain Green, UT - Destination: KVNL, Vernal, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 263 total, 11 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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). - [Incident 20080618838149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080618838149I), Jun 18, 2008: Piper PA24250, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) N6235P crashed into semi-truck on us hwy 19, 6 miles north Vernal, UT while attempting an emergency landing on the highway. ## Other investigations on N6235P (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 DEN69D0049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69D0049), Jul 6, 1968: Piper PA-24 (N6235P), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage 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.