# NTSB WPR22LA127: Piper PA-32R-300, N111NW, St. George, UT, March 24, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 24, 2022, 13:49 local (19:49 UTC) - Place: St. George, UT - Coordinates: 37.059517, -113.49787 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0595&lon=-113.4979&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Lycoming Engines, Piper Aircraft, FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA127 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane sustained a total loss of engine power during the approach to land. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing to rough desert terrain. During the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed and separated, and the airplane slid about 100 ft before coming to rest upright. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunctions or anomalies. Residual fuel was found in fuel lines and fuel components in the airframe and engine. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 2022, about 1349 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N111NW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near St. George, Utah. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that after refueling the airplane with 94 gallons of fuel they departed Casper/Natrona County International Airport (CPR), Casper, Wyoming, with a destination of St. George Regional Airport (SGU), St. George, Utah. During the approach to runway 19 at SGU, about 3,800 ft above ground level, the pilot reported to the SGU tower that he lost power. Despite several attempts, he was unsuccessful at restarting the engine. Concerned he did not have sufficient altitude to make the runway, he initiated a forced landing to rough desert terrain. During the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed and separated, and the airplane slid about 100 ft before coming to rest upright, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. First responder photos from the accident site showed dark colored and fuel saturated ground underneath the left inboard tank. During the wreckage recovery efforts, the left-wing tanks were empty. Twenty gallons of fuel was recovered from the right-wing tanks. Figure 1-Accident site, view of the left wing and fuel spill. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel selector valve handle position was undetermined due to impact damage. The fuel selector valve was undamaged and found in the right tank position. The fuel lines between the wings, fuel selector valve, electric pump, and engine were tested with air and no blockages were noted. Residual fuel was found in fuel lines and fuel components during the examination. Downloaded instrument flight data revealed that the fuel tanks were switched about every 20 minutes during the accident flight. Accurate fuel tank quantities were undetermined from the data. According to the data, shortly before the loss of engine power, the fuel pressure decreased to near zero, and about 5 seconds later, the fuel flow momentarily increased and then dropped to zero. Three seconds later, the RPM decreased to zero followed by the manifold pressure increasing to near ambient levels. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111NW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111NW), registered now, S/N 32R7680499, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R7680499 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 14563 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bruce Knell - Registered owner: Knell LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2021 - Departed: CPR, Casper, WY - Destination: SGU, St. George, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SGU, St George Municipal Airport, runway 19, 9,300 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 149 total, 106 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KSGU, 5 nm away - METAR: KSGU 241956Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM CLR 21/M11 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02111106 PNO $ ## 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 20220324004149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220324004149A), Mar 24, 2022: Piper PA-32R-300, Saint George, UT, Substantial damage. On March 24, 2022, the PIC of N111NW took on ~37.4 gallons of fuel at casper Wyoming international airport (cpr). They departed cpr at ~1030 MST with an… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104826. - Photo array-first responders (courtesy of Washington city police department) (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16708237&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-First%20Responders%20(2)-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16704623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA field notes-accident site (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16705186&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Onsite%20Investigation%20Notes_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Faa-record of conversation (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 901 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16704803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA_Form_1360-33%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Accident%20N111NW-Rel.pdf - Sgu control tower recording (item 5, WAV): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16717994&FileExtension=wav&FileName=13-49-06-Rel.wav - Email-fuel quantities during recovery efforts (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16708712&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email-Fuel%20Quantities%20During%20Recovery%20Efforts-redacted-Rel.pdf - CGR-30P flight data-raw csv (item 7, CSV, 14.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16724531&FileExtension=csv&FileName=CGR-30P%20Flight%20Data%20DMS-Rel.csv - CGR-30C flight data raw csv (item 8, CSV, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16724541&FileExtension=csv&FileName=CGR-30C%20Flight%20Data%20DMS-Rel.csv - Accident flight data graphs (nvm) (item 9, PDF, 6 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16708227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Engine%20Data-Rel.pdf - NTSB wreckage examination summary (item 10, PDF, 6 pages, 8 photos, 961 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16708740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA127%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary%20Report-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-lycoming (item 11, PDF, 14 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16703978&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20party%20form_Lycoming-WPR22LA127_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-piper (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16703843&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1.%20Piper%20Party%20Form%20N111NW_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Googleearth image of the accident site (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16704598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GE%20Accident%20Site-Rel.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.