NTSB Factual Report

On April 4, 2003, at 1827 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N21175, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight and impacted level terrain about 3 miles east of the Santa Maria Public Airport/Capt. G. Allan Hancock Field (SMX), Santa Maria, California. North Aire, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed the Ernest A. Love Field (PRC), Prescott, Arizona, at an undetermined time. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The flight was scheduled to terminate at the San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP), San Luis Obispo, California. A planned refueling stop was made at the Needles Airport (EED), Needles, California, and a non-refueling stop was also made at the General William J. Fox Field (WJF), Lancaster, California, before continuing to SBP.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigator interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that there was no "roughness" associated with the engine failure, "it just quit." The pilot stated that he recalculated his fuel at WJF, and that he had "3.5 hours of fuel" on board at the time of departure from WJF.

In the pilot's written statement he stated that he departed Prescott and flew to Needles. The flight took 2 hours. At Needles he refueled with a total of 48 gallons. He then flew to WJF, which took 2 hours. He landed at WJF, and stated that there was 31 gallons of fuel on board. He recalculated the fuel on board and determined that he had 3.5 hours of fuel remaining. The pilot received an updated weather brief from the Flight Service Station and filed an IFR flight plan. According to the pilot, he did not refuel at WJF. He departed WJF about 1650, with an IFR clearance for SBP.

The pilot stated that he flew about 1.5 hours when the engine "stopped abruptly." He notified Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the engine failure and informed them he was going to attempt to restart the engine. He informed ATC the attempt was unsuccessful, and ATC gave him vectors to Santa Maria. ATC continued to give him position reports to SMX. When the pilot did see the airport, he determined that he was too low to make the airport. He decided to land on a paved road to make the emergency landing. After landing he saw that the road he had chosen to land on had power lines and a chain link fence on the left side. The road was not wide enough for the airplane, and as he maneuvered to avoid a pole with the left side, the right wing struck a pole rotating the airplane 90 degrees where it came to rest upright after it collided with the chain link fence.

According to ATC personnel, at 1819, at 7,000 feet, the pilot reported an engine failure to Los Angeles Center (ZLA). ZLA offered a diversion to SMX, and the pilot accepted. The controller at ZLA vectored the pilot to SMX. The controller advised the pilot that SMX was at his 12 o'clock position and 5 miles. The pilot reported that he could see the beacon, but not the airport. The pilot asked the controller if he was going to make the airport, and the controller indicated that he was too low. At that point the pilot reported a pasture below him, and stated that he was going to land there. The controller continued to advise the pilot of position and distance to SMX until the airplane dropped off radar at 1827.

According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department Battalion Chief, there was no fuel on board the airplane, nor was any noted in the immediate area around the airplane.

According to the Piper Pilot's Operating Handbook, the airplane holds a total of 50 gallons of fuel, with 48 gallons of usable fuel, 24 gallons in each wing.

NTSB Probable Cause

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.