Piper PA 28-181 accident near American Falls, Idaho, August 3, 2015
On August 3, 2015 at about 1:10 am local time, a 1975 Piper PA 28-181, registered N7963C, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near American Falls, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The low flight time pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a loss of engine power, and an off-airport landing in rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2015 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- American Falls, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-181, built 1975 · all PA 28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N7963C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690093
- 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, before departing for the cross-country flight, the fuel tanks were full and that the airplane could fly about 5 to 5.5 hours with full tanks. He planned to stop at an airport and refuel 4.5 hours after departure. However, 4 hours into the flight, the pilot determined that the groundspeed was less than planned and that the airplane would not make it to the intended fueling destination. At this time, the left fuel tank quantity gauge indicated that the tank had 5 gallons, and the right fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank had more than 5 gallons, which he estimated was sufficient fuel for 1 more hour of flight, so he decided to continue to an alternate airport even though he was currently over another airport. The pilot reported that, about 10 miles from the alternate airport, the right fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank was empty and that the left fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank had between 2 and 5 gallons. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached and that they were empty; only residual quantities of fuel were observed in the engine ancillary components. The engine examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 92 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 11, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,096 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 8, 2015
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aspen Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: LHM Lincoln CA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.