# NTSB WPR13CA245: Piper PA-31-350, N969BD, Page, AZ, May 28, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2013, 16:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.899166, -111.457221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8992&lon=-111.4572&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA245 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103110), [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-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he and four passengers were about 4.5 hours into the flight and about 10 nm from their destination when the left low boost light illuminated. About 20 seconds later the left engine quit, and the pilot feathered the propeller. After about 1 minute the right low boost light illuminated, and 20 seconds later, the right engine quit. The pilot feathered the right propeller and proceeded to execute a forced landing in the desert 5 miles east of the intended destination. During the accident sequence the right engine separated from the airplane and the left wing buckled, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane had ran out of fuel, and that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he and four passengers were about 4.5 hours into the flight and about 10 nm from their destination when the left low boost light illuminated. About 20 seconds later the left engine quit, and the pilot feathered the propeller. After about 1 minute the right low boost light illuminated, and 20 seconds later, the right engine quit. The pilot feathered the right propeller and proceeded to execute a forced landing in the desert 5 miles east of the intended destination. During the accident sequence the right engine separated from the airplane and the left wing buckled, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane had ran out of fuel, and that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N969BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N969BD-2018-03-15), registration cancelled 2018-03-15, S/N 31-8152109, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 31-8152109 - Airframe hours: 8542 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sefton Donald H - Registered owner: Sefton Donald H - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 2012 - Departed: KGLE, Gainsville, TX - Destination: KPGA, Page, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KPGA, Page Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 9,509 total, 876 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 30 °F - Observed at: KPGA, 5 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 20130528009719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130528009719A), May 28, 2013: Piper PA-31-350, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. While enroute from gainsville Texas to fallon Nevada, N969BD, made an emergency landing in the desert six miles west of the Page Arizona airport due to fuel… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87014. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Right side of the airplane (item 2, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20side%20of%20the%20airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - View of left side of the airplane (item 3, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20of%20left%20side%20of%20the%20airplane-Master.PDF 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.