Probable Cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. Contributing to the accident were the unreliable fuel quantity gauges and the improperly adjusted mixture control, which increased the fuel consumption above that anticipated by the owner’s manual.
NTSB Accidents
Cub’s propeller breaks during takeoff
Probable Cause: The inflight failure of the propeller blade due to fatigue cracking from corrosion pits.
Failure to discontinue unstabilized approach leads to crash
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to discontinue an unstabilized approach, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain.
Loss of control fatal for Piper pilot
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
Fuel contamination leads to total loss of engine power
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power as a result of fuel contamination.
Failure to use carb heat after extended ground delay leads to forced landing
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during an extended ground delay before takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb due to carburetor ice.
Pilot seriously injured on third flight in new airplane
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Crashed plane ‘just didn’t have enough fuel’
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Mechanic’s error brings down just-purchased Piper
Probable Cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to secure the fuel strainer bowl with safety wire, which resulted in the fuel strainer bowl leaking and starving the engine of fuel. Also causal was the obstruction of two fuel injector nozzles.









