# Accident 19970817030449A: Piper PA24250, Caldwell, TX, August 17, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 17, 1997, 21:20 local time
- Place: Caldwell, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5208° N, 96.6999° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5208&lon=-96.6999&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6667P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6667P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24250
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,200 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA316) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970817030449A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 FTW97LA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA316), Aug 18, 1997: Piper PA-24-250 (N6667P), Caldwell, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.