# Accident 20010414006939A: Piper PA28235, Flagstaff, AZ, April 14, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 14, 2001, 12:24 local time - Place: Flagstaff, AZ - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 35.2908° N, 111.3199° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2908&lon=-111.3199&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8731W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8731W-2017-07-06) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28235 - Reported engine: LYC O540B4B5 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 262 total, 20 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA147) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010414006939A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON APRIL 14, 2001, ABOUT 1224 HOURS MST A PIPER PA-28-235, N8731W, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT MADE A HARD, FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF FLAGSTAFF, AZ. THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE BORROWED AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT DEPARTED CEDAR CITY, UTAH ABOUT 1130, ENROUTE TO DEER VALLEY, ARIZONA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FAA ACCIDENT COORDINATOR INTERVIEWED THE PILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE COMPLETED A 2.5 HOUR FLIGHT FROM DEER VALLEY TO CEDAR CITY. HE STARTED THE RETURN FLIGHT ON THE RIGHT WING TIP TANK. HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT WING TIP TANK NEAR PAGE, AZ. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, AND THEN IT LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT DID NOT SWITCH FUEL TANKS AGAIN. HE MADE A HARD LANDING ON A ROAD, WHICH SHEARED ALL THREE LANDING GEAR FROM THE AIRPLANE. (-23)ON APRIL 14, 2001, PIPER AIRCRAFT N8731W WAS AT CRUISE FLIGHT AT 11,500 MSL NEAR FLAGSTAFF, AZ. WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL UNS UCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A PAVED ROAD BUT ABORTED DUE TO AUTO TRAFFIC. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY FORCED LANDING NEXT TO THE PAVED ROAD,THIRTY MILES NORTH OF FLAGSTAFF. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, ENGINE, LANDING GEAR, UNDERSIDE FUSELAGE, WINGS AND EMPENNAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT/OWNER AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. (.4) ON APRIL 14, 2001, ABOUT 1224 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-28-235, N8731W, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT MADE A HARD, FORCED LANDING NEAR A HIGHWAY FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA. THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE BORROWED AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT DEPARTED CEDAR CITY, UTAH, ABOUT 1130, EN ROUTE TO DEER VALLEY, ARIZONA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION)ACCIDENT COORDINATOR INTERVIEWED THE PILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE C OMPLETED A 2.5-HOUR FLIGHT FROM DEER VALLEY TO CEDAR CITY IN THE MORNING AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE. HE FILLED ALL FOUR FUEL TANKS IN CEDAR CITY. HE STARTED THE RETURN FLIGHT ON THE RIGHT WING TIP TANK. HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT WING TIP TANK NEAR PAGE, ARIZONA. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, AND THEN IT LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT DID NOT SWITCH FUEL TANKS AGAIN. IN HIS STATEMENT TO THE SAFETY BOARD, THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT SWITCH FUEL TANKS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THERE WAS "AMPLE FUEL IN LEFT TIP." THE PILOT SET UP TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY, BUT A TRAFFIC CONFLICT FORCED HIM TO LAND IN TERRAIN ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE APPROXIMATELY 70 YARDS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND ALL THREE LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF. ## 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 LAX01LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA147), Apr 14, 2001: Piper PA-28-235 (N8731W), Flagstaff, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons that resulted in a forced landing in rough terrain. 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.