Piper PA-28-181 accident near Santa Maria, California, April 5, 2003
On April 5, 2003 at about 2:27 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N21175, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Maria, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight, and a subsequent on-ground collision with a pole and a fence during the ensuing emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2003 · about 2:27 am local time
- Place
- Santa Maria, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N21175 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While making an emergency landing on a road, the airplane struck a pole and a chain link fence. The pilot reported he had made a 2-hour flight and stopped to refuel. The airplane was refueled, and departed with 48 gallons of fuel. The pilot then departed for the next airport, where he landed, recalculated his fuel, and filed an IFR flight plan. He estimated his remaining fuel at 31 gallons, and left the interim airport without refueling. He estimated that he had 3.5 hours of fuel on board for the last leg of the flight. About 1.5 hours into the flight, the engine lost all power. The pilot diverted to a closer airport, but was too low to reach the airport, and made an emergency landing on a road. First responders reported finding no fuel on board the airplane, or in the surrounding area of the airplane. According to the manufacturer, the airplane holds a total of 50 gallons of fuel; 48 gallons are usable, with 24 gallons in each wing.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 215 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 159 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 3, 2003; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from SMX, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N21175 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.