Piper PA-31-350 accident near Victoria, Texas, December 11, 2024
On December 11, 2024 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1981 Piper PA-31-350, registered N818BR, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Victoria, Texas (Victoria Rgnl airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2024 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Victoria, Texas · Victoria Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350, built 1981 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N818BR · registry record · serial 318152102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that before the flight the airplane was fueled with 142.4 gallons of 100 low-lead fuel and that the fuel tanks contained 236 total gallons of fuel before takeoff. The local aerial survey flight was flown at 16,500 ft mean sea level (msl) and lasted about 5 hours. At the end of the survey mission and about 10 miles from the destination airport, the pilot noticed low fuel indications, then both engines experienced a total loss of power. The pilot made a right 90° turn away from the airport and selected a service road for a forced landing. During the landing roll the airplane collided with three vehicles on the road. The airplane also collided with a metal traffic light pole, which resulted in a separation of the right wing and aft fuselage. After the accident the pilot stated that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. During the airplane wreckage recovery, about 3 gallons of fuel were drained from the left wing tanks and the right wing tanks were empty. The pilot also stated that he did not complete a detailed fuel burn calculation or a weight and balance calculation for the flight. It is likely that the airplane did not contain 236 gallons of fuel before takeoff, and the pilot was unaware of the actual fuel onboard due to inadequate preflight planning and preflight inspection.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,034 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 6,769 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 14, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,886.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 2024
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B (piston); 4,251 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2B (piston); 5,159 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VCT Victoria TX at 3:52 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from KVCT, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVCT 112051Z 34006G15KT 10SM CLR 18/M07 A3039 RMK AO2 SLP289 T01831072 56029=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN25LA060.