# Accident 20011201036399A: Piper PA24250, Prescott, AZ, December 1, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 1, 2001, 19:30 local time
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Airport: Ernest A Love Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6544° N, 112.4197° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6544&lon=-112.4197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7213P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7213P-2007-12-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24250
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 28 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011201036399A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT FLEW FROM WHP AIRPORT ENROUTE TO PRC AT 9,500'. THE PILOT REPORTS ON ARRIVAL AT PRC, FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS SET TO A TANK WITH AN ADEQUATE QUANTITY OF FUEL. THE ENGINE FAILED ON FINAL APPROACH DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PILOT CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO A TANK WITH FUEL, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW TO ACCELERATE TO A CLIMB SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND 150 YARDS SHORT OF RUNWAY 21R CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE TWO OCCUPANTS. AT THIS TIME, N CAUSAL FACTORS ARE KNOWN. (.4) AFTER FLYING FOR 2 HOURS THE AIRPLANE ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. UPON ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THE LEFT SEATED PILOT PERFORMED A PRELANDING CHECK. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT REPOSITION THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR FROM THE NEARLY EMPTY RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK TO A MAIN TANK. SECONDS AFTER TURNING ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH LEG, THE PILOT PERFORMED ANOTHER PRELANDING CHECK. AGAIN, HE DID NOT REPOSITION THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR AWAY FROM THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. SECONDS THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT THEN TRIED TO REPOSITION THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR, BUT THE PILO                                                 T-RATED PASSENGER HAD ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED THAT TASK. ENGINE POWER WAS RESTORED JUST PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE IMPACTING A BERM, ABOUT 500 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT SEATED PILOT HELD COMMERCIAL AND CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATES. HE HAD ABOUT 612 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS INCLUDING 32 HOURS IN COMANCHES. THE RIGHT SEATED PILOT-RATED PASSENGER ALSO HELD COMMERCIAL AND CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATES. HE HAD ABOUT 1,740 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS, INCLUDING 40 HOURS IN COMANCHES. THE SUBSEQUENT AIRPLANE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK AND THE TWO MAIN TANKS JOINTLY CONTAINED A TOTAL OF 50 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK WAS DRY.

## 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 LAX02LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA036), Dec 2, 2001: Piper PA-24-250 (N7213P), Prescott, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation on final approach due to the pilot's fuel mismanagement, and his inattentiveness in following established prelanding procedures.

## Other reports on N7213P (1)

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

- [Accident 19750912032169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750912032169A), Sep 12, 1975: Piper PA24250 (N7213P), Christoval, TX, Substantial damage. Accdt date & inj index presumed. Acft stolen 9/12/75 & recovered 9/16/75.

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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