What happened
On October 26, 2025, a pilot engaged in flight hour building departed from EPMO for a flight to EPKG and back. Before departure, the pilot ensured the Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-28-181 Archer III was fueled with 501 gallons of fuel and was aware of an approaching atmospheric front.
Upon arrival at EPKG, the pilot was informed that a fuel pump failure made refueling impossible. Seeking an alternative, the pilot initially considered EPBY as a diversion airport but diverted to EPWT due to weather concerns. While flying near Watorów, the pilot encountered worsening conditions, including precipitation and low visibility. After consulting with a training center via telephone, the pilot decided to proceed with the return flight to EPMO, believing the remaining fuel was sufficient to bypass the weather system.
The flight concluded with a safe landing at EPMO at 14:54 LMT. However, upon engine shutdown, it was discovered that only approximately 2 gallons of usable fuel remained in the tank, which was significantly below the required regulatory reserves.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the pilot's experience, noting that the pilot had obtained their PPL(A) in August 2025 and had fewer than 16 total flight hours, with only 3 hours and 24 minutes on this specific aircraft type. The investigation reviewed meteorological reports (METAR/TAF) for EPBY, which showed that safe landing conditions were actually available during the period in question. The investigation also analyzed the aircraft's fuel consumption rate, established at 10.5 gallons per hour according to the AFM, noting that the remaining 2 gallons provided only about 11 minutes of flight time, failing to meet the mandatory 30-minute reserve.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was inaccurate flight planning and preparation by the pilot.
- The pilot's limited experience as a pilot-in-command contributed to a lack of foresight regarding events that could impact fuel consumption.
- Hesitation to land at alternative airports due to deteriorating weather conditions influenced the decision-making process.
- A desire to return to the home base (EPMO) on the same day likely influenced the decision to continue the flight despite low fuel levels.