# NTSB WPR24LA033: Piper PA-12, N418BS, Baker City, OR, November 9, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 9, 2023, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Baker City, OR - Coordinates: 44.837333, -117.80913 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8373&lon=-117.8091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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): 193378 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193378/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193378 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA033 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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: [Piper PA-12, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7101202), [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: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7101202), [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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101202), [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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7101202), [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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7101202), [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. - [Landing: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported a total loss of engine power resulting from fuel exhaustion, approximately one mile from the airport. While executing a forced landing in a farm field, a strong crosswind gust raised one wing. The pilot was unable to recover from this since no power authority was available. When the airplane contacted terrain, the landing gear and wingtip struck the ground, and the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N418BS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N418BS), registered now, S/N 12-2831, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2831 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Twin Buttes LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2023, 11.91 hours before - Departed: Mitchell, OR - Destination: BKE, Baker City, OR - Airport: KBKE, Baker City Airport - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review March 12, 2021; seat: center; flight hours: 2,764 total, 753.8 in this make and model, 6.4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 18 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: KBKE - METAR: KBKE 091953Z AUTO 12018G25KT 10SM CLR 07/M01 A3024 RMK AO2 PK WND 11026/1924 SLP264 T00721011 ## 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 20231109016809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231109016809A), Nov 9, 2023: Piper PA-12, Baker City, OR, Substantial damage. The airman experienced fuel starvation due to fuel tank depletion ½ mile from runway 35 @ bke. He attempted an off-airport landing in an alfalfa field. During… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193378. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16977102&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N418BS%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16982394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N4188S%20Photograph_Redacted-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.