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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2024 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Victoria, Texas · Victoria Rgnl · cases near this airport · 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 other cases naming the fuel system
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence - Pilot Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Recovery Company | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Fuel Receipt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Airplane Information | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | ADS-B Flight Track | map file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N818BR on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-31 Navajo and Chieftain 934 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B 6 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2B 5 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Victoria Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,985 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN25LA060.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.