# NTSB WPR23LA308: Piper PA-28-180, N8823J, Ritchfield, UT, August 8, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 8, 2023, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: Ritchfield, UT
- Coordinates: 38.620511, -112.22863 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6205&lon=-112.2286&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 192830
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA308
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192830/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192830
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA308

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper preflight planning that resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, after flying for about four hours, the engine began to surge. Concerned about the fuel condition, he switched to the other fuel tank and turned toward a highway for a potential emergency landing. While descending, the engine experienced surges again and then sputtered, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot noticed that both fuel tank gauges were showing empty. While maneuvering over the highway for a forced landing, the airplane’s right wingtip collided with a semi-truck, causing the airplane to strike the highway and veer off into a median. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8823J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8823J), registered now, S/N 28-2778, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-2778
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 2938
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 17, 2023
- Departed: LVK, Livermore, CA
- Destination: N79, Northumberland, PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: RIF
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2021; seat: right; flight hours: 10,400 total, 5,500 in this make and model, 9,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 686 total, 600 in this make and model, 632 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: KFOM, 22 nm away
- METAR: KFOM 081815Z AUTO 7SM CLR 26/05 A3018 RMK AO2 T02580051

## 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 20230808012749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230808012749A), Aug 8, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Richfield, UT, Substantial damage. The commercial rated pilots while ferry flying an unfamilair airplane to the new owner had an engine failure due to fuel starvation. The pilots noticed that…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192830. 5.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16268543&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA308%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 301 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16010171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA308%20Docket%20photo-Rel.pdf
- POH PA28-180 (item 3, PDF, 28 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16459495&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pa-28-150,160,180%20753-683%20Handbook-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.

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