NTSB Attributes Piper PA-24 Crash to Pilot’s Inadequate Fuel Planning
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has disclosed its probable cause findings in another general aviation accident. This incident, like many others, is tied to one of the most persistent — and preventable — hazards in light aircraft flying: fuel exhaustion.
In a recent case spotlighted by General Aviation News, a Piper PA-24 Comanche was compelled to make an emergency landing during a cross-country flight. This occurred after the engine lost power due to the pilot embarking on the journey with an insufficient fuel supply. The NTSB’s Probable Cause report states: “The pilot’s failure to initiate the cross-country flight with an adequate fuel supply, resulting in a loss of engine power and forced landing due to fuel exhaustion.”
Fuel mismanagement continues to be one of the primary causes of general aviation accidents in the United States. Safety experts persistently stress the importance of pilots accurately calculating fuel burn before departure, accounting for reserves, and verifying actual fuel quantity — not just relying on gauge readings — prior to every flight.
The Piper PA-24, a classic retractable-gear single-engine aircraft powered by a Lycoming O-540 engine, has a total fuel capacity of 60 gallons spread across multiple tanks. This makes proper fuel selector management and preflight planning crucial.
The NTSB continues to implore all general aviation pilots to regard fuel planning as an indispensable aspect of flight preparation. They note that accidents due to fuel exhaustion and starvation are almost entirely preventable with disciplined preflight routines.
Source: General Aviation News – Poor Fuel Planning Leads To Piper PA-24 Crash