# NTSB BFO94LA084: Piper PA-24-260, N9041P, Montgomery, NY, June 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 1994, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Montgomery, NY - Coordinates: 41.520458, -74.230522 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5205&lon=-74.2305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8924/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA084 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply with an improper fuel selector position which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. A factor is the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel tank selector position - improper, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The instructor and student had completed instrument instruction and afterwards, the student, who was a private pilot, requested and they practiced crosswind landings. According to the instructor 'I was distracted by his perfomance and remiss in verification of fuel status in execution of before landing checklist. Power was lost on climbout. Additional check futile. Committed to off-field landing. Damage occurred on rollout through a ditch in terrain.' The FAA examined the airplane and revealed the left fuel tank was empty. An undetermined amount of fuel was in the right tank. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 1994, about 1610 hours eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260, N9041P, an instructional flight, forced landed in an open field after the engine lost power during takeoff climb from Orange County Airport, Montgomery, New York. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The certificated flight instructor received minor injuries; the student pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The instructor was giving dual instrument instruction to the student who was a certificated private pilot. According to the instructor, upon completion of the instructions, the student requested multiple landing practice in crosswind conditions. The instructor stated, "I was distracted by his performance and remiss in verification of fuel status in execution of the before landing checklist. Power was lost on climbout. Additional check was futile. Committed to off field landing. Damage occurred on roll out through a ditch in terrain." The FAA interviewed the instructor and student who indicated they were using and exhausted the fuel from the left tank. According to the FAA, examination of the airplane revealed the left tank was empty. An undetermined amount of fuel was in the right tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9041P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9041P-2013-05-17), registration cancelled 2013-05-17, S/N 24-4504, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4504 - Airframe hours: 4019 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Quade'S Flight School - Registered owner: Quade'S Flight School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1993 - Departed: MGJ - Destination: MGJ, NY - Airport: MGJ, Orange County Airport, runway 26, 3,672 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 990 total, 3 in this make and model, 972 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 15 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19940602013459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940602013459A), Jun 2, 1994: Piper PA24260, Montgomery, NY, Substantial damage. Lost power on practice crosswind on climbout. Overran runway into a ditch. Selector on empty tank. Fuel in other. ## Other investigations on N9041P (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 NYC79FNA20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FNA20), Jul 8, 1979: Piper PA-24 (N9041P), Marshfield, MA, 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.