- Date
- June 26, 2010, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Moreno Valley, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8118APiper PA-28-236
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100626037839A
- Case key
- 76610
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that as he entered the vicinity of his destination airport, he decided the reduced visibility prohibited him from safely continuing. He opted to divert to an alternate airport to maintain visual conditions. While en route to the alternate airport, the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing into a field. The airplane collided with terrain during the landing, damaging the firewall. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine. He further stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had a larger fuel reserve.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that as he entered the vicinity of his destination airport, he decided the reduced visibility prohibited him from safely continuing. He opted to divert to an alternate airport to maintain visual conditions. While en route to the alternate airport, the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing into a field. The airplane collided with terrain during the landing, damaging the firewall. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine. He further stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had a larger fuel reserve.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8118A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-236
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8011028
- Airframe hours
- 1,473
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540 SERIES, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mackel Nealan
- Registered owner
- Mackel Nealan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 6, 2010 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- KA20 · Bullhead City, AZ
- Destination
- KAJO · Corona, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 76
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 5, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,692 total · 1,621 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KAJO, 21 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 492 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.