# NTSB WPR23LA125: Rockwell International AC 690A, N4PZ, Bullhead City, AZ, March 7, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 6, 2023, 19:45 local (Mar 7, 2023, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Bullhead City, AZ · KIFP - Coordinates: 35.154614, -114.55933 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1546&lon=-114.5593&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 106880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106880/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106880 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA125 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning for a cross-country flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level; cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rockwell International 690A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7630515), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while enroute, a low fuel level annunciation occurred. The pilot subsequently prepared to divert to a nearby airport due to low fuel. Within 2 minutes the left engine shut down, followed by the right. The pilot asked air traffic control for vectors to the nearest airport. The sky conditions were clear with no moon, no horizon and no terrain feature visible. While approaching the airport at approximately 2,000 feet above the runway, the airport runway lighting turned off. The pilot was unable to turn the lights back on and subsequently used the terminal and ramp lights to maneuver the airplane to the runway. The airplane touched down and veered off the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported to a first responder that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he ran out of gas. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4PZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4PZ-2024-04-30), registration cancelled 2024-04-30, S/N 11269 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL AC 690A - Registry model: [Rockwell International 690A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-690a) (registry code 7630515) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11269 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 6643 - Engines: AlliedSignal TPE331-5-254K 715 horsepower turbo prop; AlliedSignal TPE331-5-254K 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Phillip R Zeeck Inc - Registered owner: Phillip R Zeeck Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 2023, 5 hours before - Departed: KPVW, Plainview, TX - Destination: KHDN, Henderson, NV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KIFP, Laughlin/Bullhead Intl, runway 16, 8,500 × 150 ft, gravel - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 11,095 total, 3,720 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 150° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KIFP - METAR: METAR KIFP 060250Z AUTO 15014KT 10SM CLR 16/M01 A2992 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230307001679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230307001679A), Mar 7, 2023: Rockwell International 690A, Bullhead, AZ, Substantial damage. March 6, 2023, flight[privacy data omitted] Pilot [privacy data omitted] passenger [privacy data omitted] Purpose of the flight to attend [privacy data… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106880. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15429205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N4PZ%206120%20WPR23LA125_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15464428&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Incident%20Commander%20WPR23LA125-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 511 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15428997&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA125%20N4PZ%20Pic-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.