# NTSB WPR24LA212: Piper PA31, Lemoore, CA, June 18, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2024, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Lemoore, CA - Coordinates: 36.364164, -119.96069 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3642&lon=-119.9607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - 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): 194548 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194548/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194548 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA212 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper in-flight decision making which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent emergency landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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 related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284); cases with it: [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The left-seated pilot stated that she was recently hired with the operator and was new to flying survey operations. The right-seated pilot was training her for survey operations. They filed a flight plan for a 5-hour survey flight and filled the fuel tanks full. After takeoff, the fuel selector was set to the outboard tanks and after 1 hour and 50 minutes, the inboard tanks were selected. After another 2 hours and 20 minutes, the pilot noticed lower-than-expected fuel on the gauges and opted to end the flight early. Approximately 10 minutes after turning back, the engines had intermittent power loss and were sputtering due to low fuel. The pilot made a request to land at a nearby Naval Base and declared an emergency. The controller communicated runway 14L was closed. The pilot approached runway 14R and noticed people and objects on the runway. They were redirected to land on another runway, but the airplane was too low and touched down on grass. The airplane continued the landing roll into a security fence, damaging the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: C-GJBG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA31 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7612033 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 12384.9 - Engines: Lycoming T10-540-A2B 310 horsepower turbo prop; Lycoming T10-540-A2B 310 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Terraquest LTD. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 10, 2024 - Departed: MAE, Madera, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KNLC, Lemoore, runway 14L, 13,502 × 200 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,216 total, 388 in this make and model, 686 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 400 total, 45 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KNLC, 2 nm away - METAR: KNLC 181656Z 32013G19KT 10SM FEW200 26/02 A2981 RMK SLP093 RH/20 T02610017 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194548. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18255906&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph from accident site (provided by airport manager) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18256433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-Photos-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.