Piper PA-28-181 N21175

Summary

On 5 April 2003 at about 02:27 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N21175 was involved in an accident near Santa Maria, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 April 2003 at 02:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Maria, California, United States

Coordinates

34.8833, -120.4625

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N21175

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → San Luis Obispo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA127

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight, and a subsequent on-ground collision with a pole and a fence during the ensuing emergency landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While making an emergency landing on a road, the airplane struck a pole and a chain link fence. The pilot reported he had made a 2-hour flight and stopped to refuel. The airplane was refueled, and departed with 48 gallons of fuel. The pilot then departed for the next airport, where he landed, recalculated his fuel, and filed an IFR flight plan. He estimated his remaining fuel at 31 gallons, and left the interim airport without refueling. He estimated that he had 3.5 hours of fuel on board for the last leg of the flight. About 1.5 hours into the flight, the engine lost all power. The pilot diverted to a closer airport, but was too low to reach the airport, and made an emergency landing on a road. First responders reported finding no fuel on board the airplane, or in the surrounding area of the airplane. According to the manufacturer, the airplane holds a total of 50 gallons of fuel; 48 gallons are usable, with 24 gallons in each wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.