# NTSB CEN22LA065: Piper PA-24-250, N543AS, Delta, CO, December 8, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 8, 2021, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Delta, CO - Coordinates: 38.785603, -108.06201 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7856&lon=-108.0620&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 104376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104376/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104376 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA065 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation resulting in a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a flight to demonstrate the airplane to a prospective buyer and during the climb after completing a touch and go about 200 feet agl, the engine lost power. The pilot changed the selected fuel tank and activated the fuel boost pump; however, engine power was not restored. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported he had visually checked the fuel level in each tank before the flight. The right main fuel tank was selected for the entire flight, and it was observed to be empty after the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the power loss was likely due to fuel mismanagement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N543AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N543AS-2023-07-01), registration cancelled 2023-07-01, S/N 24-3250 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3250 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 4850 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C1C5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: High Country Tree Gallery Inc. - Registered owner: High Country Tree Gallery Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2020 - Departed: AJZ, Delta, CO - Destination: AJZ, Delta, CO - Airport: KAJZ, Blake Field, runway 3, 5,598 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,179 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 14,900 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KAJZ, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KAJZ 082155Z AUTO 07007KT 10SM BKN050 OVC065 04/02 A2994 ## 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 20211208020669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211208020669A), Dec 8, 2021: Piper PA-24-250, Delta, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot was completing touch and goes at ajz. On second touch and go engine failed at about 200 feet AGL. Pilot switched fuel tanks and verified fuel pump was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104376. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 683 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13022159&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN22LA065_redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13074763&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Ron%20Widner%20--%2009Dec2021-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13074373&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN22LA065-Rel.pdf 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.