# Accident 19970412005859A: Piper PA24260, Elk Falls, KS, April 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 1997, 12:20 local time
- Place: Elk Falls, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3696° N, 96.1907° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3696&lon=-96.1907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8739P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8739P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-260 (registry code 7102406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-720 series (registry code 41546, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24260
- Reported engine: LYC IO540D4A5
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 443 total, 140 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970412005859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOST POWER ENROUTE AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS. HIT FENCE AND TREES TRYING FOR GRAVEL ROAD. FUEL SELECTOR BROKE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA105), Apr 12, 1997: Piper PA-24 (N8739P), Elk Falls, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: fracture of the fuel selector assembly which resulted in fuel starvation.

## Other reports on N8739P (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19910716048159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910716048159A), Jul 16, 1991: Piper PA24260 (N8739P), Springfield, TN, Substantial damage. Saw opposite traffic on runway during short final. Began go around. Turned right,saw tower turned back. Stalled.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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