- Date
- July 13, 1986, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Benson, MN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3731TPiper PA-28R-201
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860713032289A
- Case key
- 13486
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he ran the right fuel tank dry before switching to the left tank in cruise flight. On final approach for a landing the engine began to falter and quit running shortly thereafter. The aircraft was landed short of the runway gear up in rough terrain and was substantially damaged. An examination of both fuel tanks following the accident revealed approximately one quart of fuel in the right tank only. The fuel gages were tested and proved to be accurate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3731T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-201
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-3009
- Airframe hours
- 2,110
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-BIE, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Swift Pro Ag Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- K36 · Onawa, IA
- Airport
- BBB · Bonson
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 280 total · 275 in this make and model · 29 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AXN, 42 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.