# NTSB WPR23LA293: Piper PA-28-235, N8675W, Port Angeles, WA, July 30, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 29, 2023, 23:19 local (Jul 30, 2023, 06:19 UTC) - Place: Port Angeles, WA - Coordinates: 48.097922, -123.18792 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0979&lon=-123.1879&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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: FAA Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192760/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192760 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA293 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel monitoring, 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. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported being unable to land at the destination airport at night due to the runway lights not being operational. The pilot then diverted to two other nearby airports but was unable to identify either airport. During the process of trying to locate a runway the pilot did not adequately monitor the fuel onboard and all the fuel was consumed from the selected fuel tank, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not restart. The pilot has no memory beyond that phase of the event. The airplane collided with trees and terrain, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8675W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8675W-2025-08-18), registration cancelled 2025-08-18, S/N 28-10205, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10205 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 5420 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brflyers LLC - Registered owner: Brflyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BLI, Bellingham, WA - Destination: W28, Sequim, WA - Airport: W28, Sequim Valley Airport - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,777 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 280° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KCLM, 13 nm away - METAR: KCLM 300253Z AUTO 28011KT 10SM CLR 17/11 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP198 T01720106 58003 ## 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 20230729017229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230729017229A), Jul 29, 2023: Piper PA-28-235, Agnew, WA, Destroyed. During descent to land at the sequim valley airport (W28), the pilot stated there was an engine hesitation at around 1000' AGL. The pilot stated he switched… ## Other investigations on N8675W (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX99LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA290), Sep 1, 1999: Piper PA-28-235 (N8675W), Boulder City, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192760. 14.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 13.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16457337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N8675W_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16457127&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photograph%20N8675W-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.