Piper PA-30 N7588Y
22 March 2021 · Wanatah, Indiana, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 22 March 2021 at about 17:30 local time, a Piper PA-30 registered N7588Y, operated by J Bird Flight Training LLC, was involved in an accident near Wanatah, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wanatah, Indiana, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.4514, -86.9330
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30
- Registration
- N7588Y
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1964
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- J Bird Flight Training LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Valparaiso → Valparaiso
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN21LA171
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilots’ fuel mismanagement, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power to both engines.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was practicing instrument approaches in the multiengine airplane with a safety pilot. While in cruise flight with fuel to both engines selected from the respective auxiliary fuel tanks, the left engine lost power. During diversion to a nearby airport, the right engine lost power and the pilots conducted a forced landing to a farm field. Both pilots thought that the auxiliary fuel tank gauges indicated that the fuel remaining was adequate and did not attempt to select fuel from either inboard fuel tank after each engine lost power. Examination revealed that both auxiliary fuel tanks were empty, while both inboard fuel tanks were nearly full. Fuel gauge testing revealed normal operation, and no fuel contamination, leaks, or anomalies of the fuel system were observed. Based on the available information, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilots’ mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of power to both engines due to fuel starvation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-30 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 2021 | Piper PA-30 | Houston, Texas, United States | Gardner James R | No injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 2021 | Piper PA-30 | Courcelles-sur-Viosnes, France | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 2021 | Piper PA-30 | Waverly, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Nov 2021 | Piper PA-30 | Newport Richie, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 2021 | Piper PA-30 | Saint-Honorat, France | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Dec 2020 | Piper PA-30 | Navasota, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 2021 | Acro Sport II | Fishers, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 2021 | Mini-Max 1600R SPORT | South Bend, Indiana, United States | Joseph Michael Krol | No injuries | - |
| 18 Dec 2021 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Bloomington, Indiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Jul 2021 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Nappanee, Indiana, United States | Agriflight Services Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 May 2021 | Cessna 162 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | TOM Wood Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 2021 | Luscombe 8A | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |