# NTSB WPR17LA092: Piper PA 28-140, N55339, Whittier, CA, April 4, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 2017, 22:00 local (Apr 4, 2017, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Whittier, CA - Coordinates: 34.018054, -118.038055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0181&lon=-118.0381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95074/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95074 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's impaired decision-making due to alcohol intoxication and his improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported to local law enforcement that, while he was flying at 1,000 ft, the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of power. He subsequently conducted a forced landing onto a large trucking yard. The landing site was about 61 miles northwest of the departure airport and in the opposite direction of his intended destination. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was set to the right fuel tank. The master electrical switch was "ON," the right fuel gauge indicated empty, and the left fuel gauge indicated between 0 and 5 gallons. The fuel tanks were intact and undamaged. It is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation. Responding law enforcement officers reported that they could smell a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the pilot's breath/person. A formal blood test, which was administered about 5 hours after the accident, revealed that the pilot had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16%. The effects of ethanol on aviators are generally well understood; it significantly impairs pilots' performance, even at very low levels. Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit any person from acting or attempting to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having 0.040 gm/dl or more ethanol in the blood. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2017, about 2200 Pacific daylight time, a Piper 28-140 airplane, N55339, made an emergency landing in a trucking yard near Whittier, California, following a loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot was uninjured. The airplane's left wing was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Temecula, California at an unknown time, and was destined for San Diego, California. The pilot reported to local law enforcement that while he was flying at 1,000 ft, the airplane's engine lost power, and he executed an emergency landing in a large trucking yard. While landing, the airplane's left wing struck a stop sign. The trucking yard was 61 miles northwest of the departure airport, when his intended destination was 60 miles south of the departure airport. A witness reported that he heard a "loud weird noise" coming from the sky. He observed the airplane, with no lights on, coming from the south area of the parking lot; it struck a stop sign and drug it along the ground until the airplane came to a rest. The witness went over to the airplane to make sure the pilot was ok; during their conversation, the pilot would be very distraught, then would suddenly appear as if nothing had happened. His emotions switched back and forth several times during their conversation. Local law enforcement reported that they could smell a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the pilot's breath/person, and his eyes were blood shot, red, and watery. In addition, he was slurring and mumbling his words, and he was unable to standup. The on scene officers conducted a standardized field sobriety test and the pilot did not pass. Subsequently, he was arrested for operating an aircraft while under the influence. A formal blood test, which was administered about 5 hours after the accident, revealed the pilot had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16%. A sergeant from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau examined the airplane and observed the fuel selector was set to the right fuel tank. He turned the master electrical switch "ON" and checked the fuel gauges; the right fuel gauge indicated empty, and the left fuel gauge indicated between 0-5 gallons. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the fuel tanks and reported that they were intact and undamaged. Ethanol is a social drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant. After ingestion, at low doses, it impairs judgment, psychomotor functioning, and vigilance; at higher doses alcohol can cause coma and death. The effects of alcohol on aviators are generally well understood; alcohol significantly impairs pilots' performance, even at very low levels. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAA), Section 91.17 (a) prohibits any person from acting or attempting to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraftwhile having 0.040 gm/dl or more alcohol in the blood. Despite numerous attempts, neither the investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), nor the inspector from the FAA were able to make contact with the pilot. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55339](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55339-2020-07-10), registration cancelled 2020-07-10, S/N 28-7325380, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-140 (140) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7325380 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: F70, Temecula, CA - Destination: San Diego, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FUL, 11 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). - [Incident 20170403003829I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170403003829I), Apr 3, 2017: Piper PA-28-140, Whittier, CA, Minor damage. On 04/03/2017, at 2156 PDT a Piper, N55339, registered to [privacy data omitted] made an emergency landing at the michael kors distribution center located at… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95074. 631 KB in all. - Record of Email - NTSB Chief Medical Officer (item 1, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20-%20NTSB%20Chief%20Medical%20Officer-Master.PDF - Record of Memorandum - Regarding Accident Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Memorandum%20-%20Regarding%20Accident%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Local Law Enforcement (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Local%20Law%20Enforcement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Federal Aviation Administration (item 5, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Regarding Blood Alcohol Concentration (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Regarding%20Blood%20Alcohol%20Concentration-Master.PDF - On Scene Photos Courtesy of Local Law Enforcement and FAA (item 7, .PDF, 3 photos, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=On%20Scene%20Photos%20Courtesy%20of%20Local%20Law%20Enforcement%20and%20FAA-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.