Piper PA-28-181 N2865M

Summary

On 29 May 2010 at about 00:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N2865M, operated by Williams Evan H, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 May 2010 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto Airport (KPAO)

Coordinates

37.4506, -122.0995

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N2865M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Williams Evan H

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Redding → Palo Alto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA267

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power on final approach due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that prior to departing on a cross-country flight the "airplane was topped [off with fuel] prior to the flight." Before the return trip the pilot visually checked the fuel level in the tanks and estimated that the right tank had 10 gallons and the left had 12 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported that while on final approach to the destination airport the "engine began to sputter" and lost power. He attempted to perform an engine restart, including switching the fuel selector to another tank, but was unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain short of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. In a verbal statement the pilot said that he "suspected a fuel management issue." An FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that the right fuel tank was empty and the left tank had approximately 3.5 gallons of fuel. According to the FAA inspector the fuel tanks were still intact and there was no evidence of a fuel leak.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.