# NTSB CHI99LA219: Piper PA-32R, N8451E, Fargo, ND, July 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 1999, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Fargo, ND - Coordinates: 46.929256, -96.830123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9293&lon=-96.8301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46741 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46741/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA219 ## Probable cause fuel starvation due to the pilot's fuel mismanagement and the pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - unreliable - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot reported the airplane had 70 gallons of fuel (3.5 hours) on board at departure. The flight lasted approximately 3.0 hours. The pilot reported that during the pre-landing checklist, the left fuel gauge indicated 10 to 11 gallons when the engine quit. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank that indicated 8 gallons, but switched the fuel selector back to the left tank since the left fuel gauge indicated more fuel. An engine restart was attempted, but it would not start. The pilot flared several feet high, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane landed hard. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank contained .75 gallons of fuel. The right fuel tank was compromised during landing. The fuel gauges were checked by putting 5 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and 5 gallons of fuel in the repaired right fuel tank. The right fuel gauge read correctly. The left fuel gauge read 3 gallons. The pilot reported that the left fuel gauge had a history of reading inaccurately on an intermittent basis since 1996. The airplane's listed unusable fuel was 5 gallons. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 1999, at 1015 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R, N8451E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing two miles from the Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Des Moines, Iowa, at 0715, en route to Fargo, which was an intermediate stop with a final destination of Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada. Visual meteorological condition prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was executing the ILS 35 approach when the engine started to sputter and then stopped. The airplane landed in a railroad switching yard. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. The pilot reported the airplane had 70 gallons of fuel on board due to weight and balance conditions when they departed Des Moines, Iowa. The pilot reported that each tank had 35 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported that he calculated he had 3.5 hours of fuel on board and that the flight would last 2.8 hours. He reported he switched between the left and right fuel tanks every 20 to 25 minutes. The flight lasted approximately 3.0 hours. The pilot reported that he performed a pre-landing checklist prior to landing and he reported that the left fuel gauge indicated 10 to 11 gallons. He reported that he was on localizer and on glideslope with the airport in sight when the engine quit. The pilot reported that he switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank that indicated eight gallons. The pilot reported that he thought the engine problem was related to the magneto so he switched the fuel selector back to the left tank since the left fuel gauge indicated more fuel. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but it would not start. The pilot executed a forced landing to a railroad switching yard. He reported he flared several feet high, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane landed hard. He reported the right wing was lower than the left wing and the airplane spun around to the right. The inspection of the airplane revealed the left fuel tank had .75 gallons of fuel. The right fuel tank was compromised during landing. The airplane's pilot's information handbook indicated the unusable fuel was five gallons. The fuel gauges were checked by putting in five gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and five gallons of fuel in the repaired right fuel tank. The right fuel gauge read correctly. The left fuel gauge read three gallons. The pilot reported that the left fuel gauge had a history of reading inaccurately on an intermittent basis since 1996. He reported it had been serviced by a repair facility, but that the left fuel gauge still had an intermittent problem. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8451E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8451E-2004-11-05), registration cancelled 2004-11-05, S/N 32R-8113122, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (registry code 7103218) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-8113122 - Airframe hours: 2179 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James R. Bell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1999, 24 hours before - Departed: DSM, DES MOINES, IA - Destination: FAR - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,590 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAR, 2 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 19990708046229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990708046229A), Jul 8, 1999: Piper PA32R301, Fargo, ND, No damage. (-23) Pilot was executing an ILS-35 approach to Fargo int'l. airport. At approximately 3 miles from the runway threshold the engine sputtered and lost power.… ## Other investigations on N8451E (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 ATL04LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA126), Jun 14, 2004: Piper PA 32R-301 (N8451E), Baxley, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The mechanical malfunction of the autopilot pitch servo, and the pilot's inability to maintain adequate control pressure to manually retrim the pitch attitude. 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.