# Accident 19991231047769A: Piper PA22160, Brighton, CO, December 31, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 1999, 12:30 local time
- Place: Brighton, CO
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9497° N, 104.7907° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9497&lon=-104.7907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9225D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9225D-2002-05-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-160 (registry code 7102214, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22160
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN00LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991231047769A

## Narrative

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

(.4) DURING THE PREFLIGHT, THE PILOT DID NOT VISUALLY LOOK INTO THE FUEL TANKS. HE SAID THAT HE TURNED THE MASTER SWITCH ON, AND THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF FULL.  DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE RAISED THE NOSE WHEEL QUICKLY TO KEEP THE PROP OUT OF THE DIRT.  HE SAID THAT HE PERFORMED A STEEPER THEN NORMAL CLIMB-OUT, AND THEN TURNED LEFT CONTINUING THE STEEP CLIMB.  HE SAID THE ENGINE STOPPED, AND THE METAL PROPELLER STOPPED TURNING.  A PILOT/MECHANIC SAID THAT IF A STEEP CLIMBING DEPARTURE TURN IS PERFORMED BY A PILOT, AND THE AIRPLANE IS ONLY PARTIALLY FUELED, UNPORTING OF THE FUEL LINES IN THE WING TANKS IS POSSIBLE, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE.  NO PREIMPACT ENGINE OR AIRFRAME ANOMALIES, WHICH MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE, WERE IDENTIFIED.  PILOT TRAINING MANUALS CAUTION THE PILOT TO VISUALLY LOOK INTO FUEL TANKS DURING PREFLIGHT AND NOT TO RELY ON COCKPIT FUEL GAUGES.                                      (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR BRIGHTON, CO. AIRCRAFT LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN. AIRCRAFT CRASHED CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT.

## 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 DEN00LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA035), Dec 31, 1999: Piper PA-22-160 (N9225D), Brighton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's not following preflight procedures, the starvation of fuel to the engine, and the lack of suitable terrain for a 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.

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