Piper PA-38-112 accident near Spokane, Washington, October 11, 1992
On October 11, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N24563, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spokane, Washington (Felts Fld airport). It was an instructional 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FUEL EXHAUSTION AND INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Felts Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N24563 · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A1132
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT JUST BEFORE HIS LAST DEPARTURE FOR THE RETURN LEG HOME, HE INCORRECTLY CALCULATED THE REMAINING FUEL ON BOARD AND DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRPLANE. WHEN APPROXIMATELY TEN MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE LEFT FUEL TANK EXHAUSTED OF FUEL. THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK THAT EXHAUSTED OF FUEL APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21L, THEN SWITCHED TO 21R TO TRY AND LAND ON THE OVERRUN. AN AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE IS PRESENT AT THE END OF THE OVERRUN. IN ORDER TO AVOID STRIKING THE FENCE, THE PILOT HAD TO PULL THE AIRPLANE UP AND OVER THE FENCE. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND, STRIKING THE RUNWAY APPROACH LIGHTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Loranger Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LWS Lewiston ID at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.