# Accident 20020816023699A: Piper PA25235, Boulder, CO, August 16, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2002, 13:15 local time
- Place: Boulder, CO
- Airport: Boulder Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0169° N, 105.4061° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0169&lon=-105.4061&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9791P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9791P-2004-03-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-235 (registry code 7102504, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA25235
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA096) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020816023699A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THIS AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING GLIDER TOWING OPERATIONS FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. AT THE TIME THE ENGINE FAILED THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE, AT THAT TIME, WENT TO EMPTY AND THEN THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE GLIDER BEING TOWED SEPARTED AND RETURNED TO BOULDER AIRPORT. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD LOCATED 25 MILES WEST OF BOULDER, NEAR SUGARLOAFT ROAD. THE LANDING RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT BEING DESTROYED. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

## 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 DEN02LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA096), Aug 16, 2002: Piper PA-25-235 (N9791P), Boulder, CO, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent loss of engine power, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing, which…

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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