# Accident 20050209001359A: Piper PA28140, Superior, MT, February 9, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 2005, 16:30 local time
- Place: Superior, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.1653° N, 114.8161° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1653&lon=-114.8161&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6399W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6399W-2015-04-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 116 total, 21 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA05LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050209001359A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005, AT 1630 MST, A PIPER PA-28-140, N6399W, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED OFF-FIELD LANDING, 2 MILES EAST OF SUPERIOR, MONTANA. THE CERTIFIED PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO, WITH A DESTINATION OF LIBBY, MONTANA. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE PILOT WAS PLANNING TO LAND IN SUPERIOR, MONTANA, BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED THAT THE TANKS WERE LESS THEN ONE-QUARTER FULL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OBSERVED AN AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY AT SUPERIOR, AND WAS MANEUVERING WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO BOTH WING TIPS, THE FIREWALL, ENGINE MOUNT, COWLING, AND PROPELLER. WHEN THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE LEFT TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 5 1/2 GALLONS, AND THE RIGHT TANK HAD LESS THAN 1 QUART. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DISASSEMBLED AND TRACKED TO MISSOULA, MONTANA, FOR REPAIR. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 SEA05LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA048), Feb 9, 2005: Piper PA-28-140 (N6399W), Superior, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate planning/decision and improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the berm.

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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