# Accident 19980516009789A: Piper PA25260, Richfield, UT, May 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 1998, 09:38 local time
- Place: Richfield, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 38.7493° N, 112.0994° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7493&lon=-112.0994&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9754P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9754P-2001-09-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-260 (registry code 7102508, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA25260
- Reported engine: LYC O540G1A5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 551 total, 61 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516009789A

## Narrative

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

ENGINE FAILED DUE INADEQUATE FUEL CARRIED. ON RETURN TO RIF PILOT TRIED TO STRETCH GLIDE RESULTING IN A STALL SPIN. (.4)THE PILOT REMEMBERED LITTLE OF THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES SAID THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN SPRAYING A FIELD WITH A 50-50 MIXTURE OF FURADAN (A WEED KILLER) AND DIMATE 4E. THEY REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE 'CUT OUT,' 'STALL,' OR 'STOP.'  THEY SAID THE PILOT 'GOT IT STARTED AGAIN,' THEN IT 'CUT OUT,' 'STALLED,' OR 'STOPPED' AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN SEEN TO 'DIVE,' 'NOSE DIVE,' OR GO 'STRAIGHT DOWN.'  AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE UNDAMAGED WING TANKS AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL. NO FUEL WAS DETECTED IN THE GASCOLATOR, THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE GASCOLATOR AND FUEL PUMP, OR THE CARBURETOR. A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR INLET FUEL LINE.             (-23)THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, SO THE PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT.  ONE AND ONE-HALF MILES SOUTH-EAST OF THE AIRPORT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND SPUN ONTO THE GORUND.  THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

## 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 FTW98LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA221), May 16, 1998: Piper PA-25-260D (N9754P), Richfield, UT, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power; and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering for a forced landing, which…

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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