No fatalities

Engine Power Loss During Cross-Country Flight Leads to Forced Landing

Charles City, IA, United States

On June 25, 2015, a PIPER PA 24 operated by CELEBRATIONS AVIATION LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Charles City, IA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate pre-flight fuel planning resulting in fuel exhaustion and a collision with terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a complete loss of engine power during a cross-country flight. After unsuccessful restart attempts, a forced landing was made in a field. Post-accident inspection found no usable fuel remaining and no mechanical malfunctions.

Incident Overview

During a cross-country flight, the pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field, where the aircraft impacted terrain and came to rest.

Post-Accident Inspection

Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspectors conducted a post-accident inspection. The inspection revealed that the aircraft's fuel tanks were undamaged and contained no usable fuel at the time of impact.

Damage Assessment

The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its wings and fuselage as a result of the forced landing and terrain impact.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotFluid level

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome