# NTSB BFO93LA150: Piper PA-24-250, N7507P, Caribou, ME, September 2, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1993, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Caribou, ME - Location: 46.8606° N, 68.0120° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Caribou, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8606&lon=-68.0120&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8799/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA150 ## Probable cause LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD COMPLETED HIS PRETAKEOFF CHECKS AND RUN-UP SUCCESSFULLY. HE STATED THAT HE DEPARTED AND WAS AT 870 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE, AND IT WAS REVEALED THAT BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AUXILLARY TANKS WERE FULL, WHILE THE RIGHT MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS TOPPED OFF A WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HE HAD FLOWN 2.12 HOURS SINCE REFUELING. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN TANKS CAPACITY IS 30 GALLONS EACH, AND THE FUEL CONSUMPTION IS 14.3 GPH. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT TANK FOR TAKEOFF. TEST DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Factual narrative On Thursday, September 2, 1993, at 1000 eastern daylight time, N7507P, a Piper PA-24-250, owned and operated by Donald Doran of Vero Beach, Florida, lost engine power shortly after takeoff and collided with the ground in a field at Caribou, Maine. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated commercial pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was being operated under 14 CFR 91 and was destined for Auburn-Lewiston, Maine. According to the pilot, he had completed his pretakeoff checks and run-up successfully. He stated that after departing runway 29 at about 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot stated that the fuel selector was on the left tank and that he tried switching tanks to restart the engine, but he was unsuccessful. He made a forced landing in a field about a quarter mile from the airport. According to the FAA Inspector who examined the wreckage, both auxiliary fuel tanks and the left main fuel tank were full and the right main fuel tank was empty. A witness at the accident site stated that he turned the fuel selector off after he smelled fuel, but he does not recall which tank the selector was on. The pilot had reported to the FAA that the tanks were topped off about a week prior to the accident, and that he had flown about 2.12 hours since the refuelling. The airplane's main tanks capacity is 30 gallons per tank, and the fuel consumption according to the FAA is 14.3 gph. The engine was examined after the accident under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The engine was installed with a test club propeller and a slave carburetor in order to test run the engine. The engine was started and operated without difficulty. According to the FAA there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction that would have prevented the engine from operating. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7507P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7507P-1998-09-01), registration cancelled 1998-09-01, S/N 242708 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2708 - Airframe hours: 2875 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald W Doran - Registered owner: Donald W Doran - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 1993, 11 hours before - Destination: LEW, LEWISTON, ME - Airport: CAR, Caribou Municipal, runway 29, 3,437 × 125 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,720 total, 246 in this make and model, 2,455 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CAR, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930902032899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930902032899A), Sep 2, 1993: Piper PA24250, Caribou, ME, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Force landed in field. Right tank empty all other full. Engine ran normal pro accident. ## Other investigations on N7507P (2) 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 MIA77DKJ11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DKJ11), Jan 1, 1977: Piper PA-24 (N7507P), Gadsden, AL, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA75DKJ16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75DKJ16), Aug 24, 1974: Piper PA-24 (N7507P), Montgomery, AL, substantial damage 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. --- 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.