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NTSB Report

September 12, 2021 · Piper PA-44-180 · N740FT

Magnolia, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 12, 2021
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Magnolia, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-44-180 (1978)
Tail Number
N740FT
Operator
Up and Up Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN21LA418

The pilot was completing a personal flight in a rented multiengine airplane and reported that during the preflight inspection, the fuel gauges indicated 17 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank. He then visually inspected each tank and confirmed fuel was present. After takeoff, he climbed to 2,000 ft mean sea level and proceeded to a nearby airport where he completed one full stop landing before he departed and proceeded back to the original airport. About 10 minutes into the return flight, the left engine experienced a loss of power, followed by the right engine 5 minutes later. The pilot attempted to execute an emergency landing to a road but struck a tree during the descent and crashed onto a residential driveway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage. The fuel tanks were not breached during the accident sequence and there was no fuel on the ground near the airplane. A postaccident examination revealed that there was no fuel in either fuel tank, about 4 to 6 oz of fuel was drained from the left carburetor, and there was no fuel in the right carburetor. There were no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The dispatch sheets and discrepancy logs from the five previous flights did not reveal any anomalies with the fuel gauges, fuel system, or fuel consumption. Based on a postaccident fuel calculation, the airplane likely departed with a total of about 14 gallons of fuel and did not have enough fuel to complete the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.

Full Narrative

On September 12, 2021, at 1051 central daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180 airplane, N740FT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Magnolia, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, the fuel gauges indicated 17 gallons of fuel in both the left and right tanks. He then visually inspected each tank and confirmed fuel was present. After takeoff, he climbed to 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and flew about 15 minutes to the destination airport, about 34 miles northwest, where he completed one full stop landing. He departed and proceeded back to the original airport. About 10 minutes into the return flight, the left engine experienced a loss of power, then 5 minutes later the right engine experienced a loss of power. He attempted to execute an emergency landing to a road but struck a tree during the descent. The pilot rented the airplane from a local business and did not fuel the airplane before takeoff. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. The fuel tanks were not breached during the accident sequence and neither tank contained evidence of fuel. There was no evidence of fuel on the ground near the airplane. A mechanic confirmed that there was no fuel found in either fuel tank, about 4 to 6 oz of fuel was drained from the left carburetor and there was no fuel in the right carburetor. There were no preimpact anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The dispatch sheets and discrepancy logs from the five previous flights did not reveal any anomalies with the fuel gauges, fuel system, or fuel consumption. A postaccident fuel consumption calculation was completed, which revealed that the pilot had departed with a total of about 14 gallons of fuel. Based on an average fuel consumption rate of 17 gallons per hour, the airplane would have contained less than 1.5 gallons of fuel at the accident site. The airplane’s manual states that the fuel tanks have 2 gallons of total unusable fuel.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:51 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-44-180
Tail NumberN740FT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorUp and Up Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-E1A6D · Reciprocating · 180 | Lycoming · O-360-E1A6D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time10:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data