Piper PA-28 N5263W

Summary

On 28 December 2024 at about 04:45 local time, a Piper PA-28 registered N5263W was involved in an accident near New Braunfels, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 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

28 December 2024 at 04:45

Classification

Accident

Location

New Braunfels, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.7027, -98.0427

Aircraft

Piper PA-28

Registration

N5263W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1962

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Midlothian → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN25LA065

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s improper in-flight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a subsequent off-field landing on rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the pilot checked the fuel level and noted the airplane contained about 38 gallons of fuel. During the cross-country flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks about every 15 minutes. While on approach about 3 miles from the destination airport with the fuel selector in the left tank position, the engine began to intermittently lose power. With the electric fuel pump on, the pilot pumped the throttle, and the engine temporarily regained full power. The pilot attempted to gain some altitude when the engine lost total power. Unable to make the airport, the pilot conducted an off-field landing, during which the left wing sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank contained 8 gallons of fuel.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.