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19980709016329A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-22-135 · San Angelo, TX · July 9, 1998

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
July 9, 1998 · 08:45 local
Place
San Angelo, TX
Airport
Mathis Field
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N1279C
NTSB investigation
NTSBFTW98LA305
Reported as
Piper PA22135
Reported engine
Lycoming O320B2B
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
134 total52 in this make and model26 in the last 90 days
N1279CRegistration cancelled May 18, 2001 · Piper PA-22-135S/N 22-1075Airframe modelPiper PA-22-135

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.

(.4)The airplane nosed over during a forced landing to a construction area following a loss of engine power in cruise flight. At the accident site, an FAA inspector found the left fuel tank empty and the fuel selector in the off position. A mechanic, who arrived at the site before the inspector, stated that he turned the selector off. In a written statement, the pilot did not mention selecting a different fuel tank following the power loss. In two interviews, the pilot made conflicting statements as to whether she had switched fuel tanks. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation. After the inpact damaged lower half of the carburetor was replaced, the engine was run on a test stand for about 10 minutes at various power settings. (-23) aircraft N1279C experienced engine shut down three times during a flight originating in San Angelo, Texas destination midland, Texas. The accident occurred due to depletion of fuel in the selected left tank.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING TO A CONSTRUCTION AREA FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND THE LEFT FUEL TANK EMPTY AND THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE OFF POSITION. A MECHANIC, WHO ARRIVED AT THE SITE BEFORE THE INSPECTOR, STATED THAT HE TURNED THE SELECTOR OFF. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT DID NOT MENTION SELECTING A DIFFERENT FUEL TANK FOLLOWING THE POWER LOSS. IN TWO INTERVIEWS, THE PILOT MADE CONFLICTING STATEMENTS AS TO WHETHER SHE HAD SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION. AFTER THE INPACT DAMAGED LOWER HALF OF THE CARBURETOR WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE WAS RUN ON A TEST STAND FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AT VARIOUS POWER SETTINGS. (-23) AIRCRAFT N1279C EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUT DOWN THREE TIMES DURING A FLIGHT ORIGINATING IN SAN ANGELO, TEXAS DESTINATION MIDLAND, TEXAS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO DEPLETION OF FUEL IN THE SELECTED LEFT TANK.

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 FTW98LA305Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSan Angelo, TXThe loss of engine power as a result of fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Jul 9, 1998 · Substantial damage