Piper PA32 accident near Gordonville, Pennsylvania, January 1, 2024
On January 1, 2024 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA32, registered N722RM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Gordonville, Pennsylvania (Smoketown Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper fuel management resulting in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and subsequent off-airport forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 2024 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Gordonville, Pennsylvania · Smoketown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32 300, built 1974 · all PA32s on the register
- Registration
- N722RM · registry record · serial 32-7440140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After departing on the accident flight, the pilot moved the fuel selector from the left main fuel tank to the right wingtip fuel tank, and later the left wingtip fuel tank. With an estimated 20 minutes of flight time remaining, he attempted to select the right main fuel tank, but inadvertently selected the left main fuel tank. About 10 minutes later, began losing power. Despite the pilot’s efforts to troubleshoot the issue by activating the fuel pump and articulating the throttle, the engine lost power completely. The pilot then selected the right main fuel tank but was unable to restart the engine. He subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane struck wires and fence posts, substantially damaging the left wing, as well as the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that only 8 ounces of fuel remained in the left main fuel tank. While damage the left wing incurred during the accident compromised the integrity of the tank, there was no evidence of any fuel leakage. About 25 gallons of fuel remained in the right main fuel tank. The airframe fuel strainer contained about 2 ounces of uncontaminated fuel. Examination and operational testing of the fuel selector valve confirmed that the selector valve was functional in all positions and the indicator aligned properly in the detents. Based on this information, the pilot’s inadvertent selection of the left main fuel tank resulted in exhausting its fuel supply, and the subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,345 hours in all; 638 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,301 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2023; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 3,690 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TGI Tangier VA at 6:09 pm
- Destination: S37 Smoketown PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:29 pm from KLNS, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLNS 011929Z 32007KT 10SM SCT013 BKN043 OVC050 05/02 A3002 RMK AO2 RAE1858 P0000 T00500022
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 October 31, 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 | NTSB Record of Conversations | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N722RM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.