# Accident 20131023022819A: Piper PA-23, Tucson, AZ, October 23, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 23, 2013, 10:48 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Tucson International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1122° N, 110.9333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1122&lon=-110.9333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3162P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3162P-2018-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23 (registry code 7102302, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 361 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA027) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131023022819A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 23, 2013, ABOUT 1040 LOCAL TIME, A PIPER PA-23 AIRPLANE, N3162P, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED DURING A TALE OFF AT TUCSON AIRPORT (TUS), TUCSON, ARIZONA. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AFTER TAKING OFF ROTATION ON RUNWAY 11R. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 3 DAYS. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, WINDS WERE 12KT AT 120 AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS A LOW WING TWIN ENGINE CONFIGURATION WITH TRI-CYCLE LANDING GEAR. PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT HE CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION PRIOR TO DEPARTING TUS.

AFTER TAKE-OFF ROTATION WHILE CLIMBING, AT 300 FEET AGL THE PILOT SAID HE WAS BEING BLOWN LEFT BY CROSSWINDS. THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE, ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND IN PATCHED RUNWAY 11L. THE AIRCRAFT HIT VERTICALLY LEFT WING FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE AND RIGHT WING AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET EAST OF RUNAWAYS 11L ON ITS BELLY WITH THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT WAS ASSISTED BY FIRST RESPONDERS TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT NORMALLY.

THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OF     HOURS, INCLUDING ABOUT 15 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE MAKE AND MODEL. AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVATIONS FROM SURROUNDING AIRPORTS ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INCLUDED WINDS 14KT AT 120; CLEAR SKIES; TEMPERATURES ABOUT 24 DEGREES C.

THE PILOT STATED HE HAD NO MECHANICAL FAILURE AND ALL AIRPLANE SYSTEMS WERE OPERATING NORMAL THOUGH OUT THE FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED WATCHING THE AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF AND HEARING BACK FIRING AND ENGINE MISSING NOISE. DURING AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE THE LEFT ENGINE DID NOT HAVE ANY FUEL IN THE FUEL STRAINER OR THE CARBURETOR. THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD FUEL THOUGH OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM.  BOTH ENGINE CONTROLS WERE FULL PITCH AT FULL POWER AND FULL RICH. BOTH FUEL MASTER SWITCHES WERE IN THE ON POSITION AND THE BOTH ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TAKEN FROM BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT WING TANKS, THE FUEL WAS FOUND TO BE CLEAR AND BRIGHT. NO OTHER MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE NOTED DURING THE INSPECTION.

## 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 WPR14LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA027), Oct 23, 2013: Piper PA-23-150 (N3162P), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff following the loss of left engine power due to the failure of the left engine-driven fuel pump’s diaphragm. Contributing to the…

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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