Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Mount Gilead, Ohio, July 21, 2023
On July 21, 2023 at about 7:10 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N9519C, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Mount Gilead, Ohio (Morrow County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper fuel management by not switching fuel tanks in flight, resulting in fuel starvation to the engine and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2023 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Gilead, Ohio · Morrow County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300, built 1978 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N9519C · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7885053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was about 30 minutes from his destination when the engine lost total power. He conducted the emergency procedures for an engine power loss, notified air traffic control, and looked for an opening in the clouds. He was unable to glide to a suitable airport, so he performed a forced landing into a soybean field with the landing gear retracted. The airplane came to rest in the field; however, substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing resulted. An examination of the wreckage after the accident did not reveal evidence of a malfunction or anomaly that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane and engine. The left wing fuel tank was dry when examined after the accident, and the right wing contained about 25 gallons of fuel. The pilot later reported that he exhausted the fuel supply from the left tank and failed to switch to the right tank after the loss of engine power.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 949 hours in all; 747 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 796 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 27, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2023; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 5,584 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVG Norfolk VA at 4:10 pm
- Destination: FDY Findlay OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 3,495 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KMNN, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMNN 211953Z AUTO 33009KT 10SM 24/16 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP139 T02440156 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2024. 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 | FAA Records of Conversation with Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Examination Summary | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.