# NTSB WPR25LA183: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N31998, Winchester, ID, June 22, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 22, 2025, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Winchester, ID - Coordinates: 46.28875, -116.63487 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2888&lon=-116.6349&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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): 200368 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200368/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management resulting in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a subsequent off-airport forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s reduced fuel level monitoring due to an inflight distraction. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, as he neared his destination, he became distracted by worsening weather conditions and forgot to switch fuel tanks. As a result, the fuel was depleted from the right fuel tank, and the airplane suffered a total loss of engine power. While attempting to restart the engine, the pilot intended to the move the selector to the left tank, but inadvertently moved the fuel selector from the right tank to the off position instead. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot selected a field to perform a forced landing. Prior to touchdown, the pilot realized the fuel was selected off and moved the fuel selector to the left tank; however, before power could be restored, the airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31998](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31998), registered now, S/N 32R-7887019, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7887019 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 8118 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lance Group LLC - Registered owner: Lance Group LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2025, 2 hours before - Departed: PVU, Provo, UT - Destination: PUW, Pullman, WA - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 16, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 330 total, 277 in this make and model, 272 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KLWS, 17 nm away - METAR: KLWS 222132Z VRB04KT 10SM FEW070 BKN090 20/06 A3004 RMK AO2 T02000056 $ ## 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 20250622007119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250622007119A), Jun 22, 2025: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Winchester, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot switched off the fuel lever instead of switching it to the left fuel tank. Once pilot realized this, he immediately went into restart procedures. The… ## Other investigations on N31998 (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 DEN03LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA065), Apr 16, 2003: Piper PA-32RT-300T (N31998), St. George, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper flare technique, resulting in a hard landing that caused the nose landing gear down-lock to fail and the gear to collapse. A contributing factor was the unfavorable wind. 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.