19970817030449A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-24-250 · Caldwell, TX · August 17, 1997

Date: August 17, 1997 · 21:20 local
Place: Caldwell, TX
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6667P
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW97LA316
Reported as: Piper PA24250
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,200 total1,900 in this make and model27 in the last 90 days

N6667PRegistered now · Piper PA-24-250S/N 24-1791 · Built 1960 Airframe modelPiper PA-24-250 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Ran out of fuel en route due siphoning from right fuel tank cap. Struck a truck landing on a highway. Cap not secur (-23) aircraft departed el paso with 4+30 hrs fuel for a 3+45 hrs flight. Engine quit 3+40 hrs into flt. Landed on state highway 36. Vehicle collided with aircraft after landing.

As the FAA filed it

RAN OUT OF FUEL EN ROUTE DUE SIPHONING FROM RIGHT FUEL TANK CAP. STRUCK A TRUCK LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. CAP NOT SECUR (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED EL PASO WITH 4+30 HRS FUEL FOR A 3+45 HRS FLIGHT. ENGINE QUIT 3+40 HRS INTO FLT. LANDED ON STATE HIGHWAY 36. VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH AIRCRAFT AFTER LANDING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW97LA316Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCaldwell, TXThe loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion which resulted from a leaking fuel cap. Factors were the dark night conditions, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Aug 18, 1997 · Substantial damage