Piper PA 30 accident near Billings, Montana, September 12, 2020
On September 12, 2020 at about 5:43 pm local time, a 1964 Piper PA 30, registered N7602Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Billings, Montana (Billings Logan International A airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2020 · about 5:43 pm local time
- Place
- Billings, Montana · Billings Logan International A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 30 No Series, built 1964 · all PA 30s on the register
- Registration
- N7602Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-672
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the FAA, the pilot contacted the air traffic control tower at the destination airport and requested clearance to land on runway 28. The pilot mentioned that the airplane had one engine “out” but did not share details, nor did he declare an emergency. As the airplane was on short final, the pilot made another radio call to the tower indicating that he lost the second engine. The airplane landed short of the runway against a cliffside. On scene law enforcement reported that they did not smell fuel at the accident site, nor was fuel present in the unbreeched fuel tanks. Postaccident examination of the airframe and both engines did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot does not recall the accident; however, he recalls that he had an issue with the right engine and had to shut it down. Estimated fuel calculations were completed assuming the fuel tanks were full and 75% power was used. The airplane would have consumed 77.4 gallons of the 84 usable gallons during the 4.5 hr accident flight. The calculations did not account for variables such as engine leaning, wind, climb, or descent. Taking those variables into account, it is likely that the airplane did not have enough fuel to complete the flight.
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 approach defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,024 hours in all; 820 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,736 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,381 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21D St. Paul MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28R, 10,518 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from BIL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2022. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe and Engine Examination Observations | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Local Law Enforcement Regarding Fuel | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Air Traffic Control Recording | audio | View Download |
| 5 | radar Tabular Data - ADS-B | data file | Download |
| 6 | Google Earth - ADS-B Data | map file | Download |
| 7 | Estimated Fuel Burn Calculations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | On Scene Photos | PDF, 3 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.