# Accident 19980616025639A: Piper PA25260, Douglas, WY, June 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 1998, 19:00 local time
- Place: Douglas, WY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7499° N, 105.3903° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7499&lon=-105.3903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8531L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8531L-2000-02-15) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 560 total, 65 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA270) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980616025639A

## Narrative

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

OUT OF FUEL LANDED IN TALL GRASS FIELD. REFUELED. TOOK OFF. STRUCK A RIDGE ON CLIMBOUT. BUSHES SLOWED TAKEOFF. (.4)WHILE ON A FERRY FLIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT WHERE REFUELING WAS PLANNED, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST ALL POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD.  HE HITCHHIKED TO THE AIRPORT AND PURCHASED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL WHICH WAS PUT IN THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.  THE AIRCRAFT GOT ABOUT 4 FEET IN THE AIR AND DRAGGED BOTH WINGS ON THE TERRAIN BEFORE THE PILOT RE-LANDED AND STOPPED THE AIRCRAFT.                                               (-23)PILOT REPORTED HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE GRADUALLY LOST POWER.  INVESTIGATION AND A WITNESS STATEMENT SHOWS THE AIRPLANE WAS OUT OF FUEL.  HE LANDED IN A FIELD WITH HIGH VEGETATION.  NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE.  HE GOT A RIDE TO THE AIRPORT AND BOUGHT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL.  DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKE OFF HE CRASHED WHEN IT HIT A RIDGE ON ONE SIDE OF A RAVINE, THEN LOST CONTROL.

## 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 FTW98LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA270), Jun 17, 1998: Piper PA-25-260 (N8531L), Douglas, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate judgement in attempting to takeoff from unsuitable rough terrain.

## Other reports on N8531L (1)

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

- [Accident 19990521020929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990521020929A), May 21, 1999: Piper PA25260 (N8531L), Richfield, UT, Destroyed. On may 21, 1999, at 0646 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25-260, N8531L, owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed following an in-flight collision…

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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