# NTSB DEN03LA049: Piper PA-24-250, N6960P, Belen, NM, March 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 2003, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Belen, NM - Coordinates: 34.645278, -106.83361 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6453&lon=-106.8336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56631/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA049 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper preflight/in-flight decision making which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing factors include, the partial fuel selector valve failure, the pilot's intentional operation with known deficiencies in equipment and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel system,selector/valve - failure,partial (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he purchased the airplane on March 11, 2003, and was aware of recent maintenance on the fuel selector valve. He examined the airplane and departed on a cross-country flight back to his home base. He stated that, approximately 2 hours into the flight, the engine "quit," and that he had experienced fuel exhaustion. He switched the fuel selector valve to the left wing-tip fuel tank, restarted the engine and landed at the nearest airport. Upon landing, he examined the fuel tanks and found that the right main and right wing-tip fuel tanks were full, the left wing-tip fuel tank was half full and the left main fuel tank was "dry." He refueled the airplane and departed. During the next 2 hours of flying, he switched the fuel selector valve from the left and right wing-tip tanks, to the main tanks and at approximately 2 hours into the flight the engine "quit" a second time. He was able to restart the engine after switching back to the left wing-tip tank, landed at the nearest airport to refuel and then departed to his destination. On March 14, the day of the accident, he departed on a cross-country flight. During the second hour of flight, he switched the fuel selector valve from the main tanks to the left wing-tip tank, then to the right wing-tip tank and then back to the main tanks in 20-min intervals. Approximately 2 hours into the flight, the engine "sputtered and then stopped." He restarted the engine, but it only ran for a few seconds. He attempted to glide to the nearby Alexander Municipal Airport, but was forced to land approximately 250 feet short of runway 21. The impact resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the firewall, and the separation of all landing gear assemblies. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2003, at approximately 0730 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6960P, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing near Alexander Municipal Airport (E80), Belen, New Mexico. The pilot was not injured, but his passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Tucson, Arizona, at approximately 0530. According to the pilot, he purchased the airplane on March 11, 2003, and was aware of recent maintenance on the fuel selector valve. He examined the airplane and departed on a cross-country flight back to his home base. He stated that, approximately 2 hours into the flight, the engine "quit," and that he had experienced fuel exhaustion. He switched the fuel selector valve to the left wing-tip fuel tank, restarted the engine and landed at the nearest airport. Upon landing, he examined the fuel tanks and found that the right main and right wing-tip fuel tanks were full, the left wing-tip fuel tank was half full and the left main fuel tank was "dry." He refueled the airplane and departed. During the next 2 hours of flying, he switched the fuel selector valve from the left and right wing-tip tanks, to the main tanks and at approximately 2 hours into the flight the engine "quit" a second time. He was able to restart the engine after switching back to the left wing-tip tank, landed at the nearest airport to refuel and then departed to his destination. On March 13, he flew the airplane from his home base to a nearby airport with a maintenance facility to have a mechanic examine the airplane's fuel selector valve. The mechanic stated that the right fuel selector valve did not have a detent. The pilot had the selector valve repaired. The selector valve was checked and it operated correctly. He then departed back to his home base. On March 14, the day of the accident, he departed on a cross-country flight. During the second hour of flight, he switched the fuel selector valve from the main tanks to the left wing-tip tank, then to the right wing-tip tank and then back to the main tanks in 20-min intervals. Approximately 2 hours into the flight, the engine "sputtered and then stopped." He restarted the engine, but it only ran for a few seconds. He attempted to glide to the nearby Alexander Municipal Airport, but was forced to land approximately 250 feet short of runway 21. The impact resulted in a cord wise buckle of both the left and right wings approximately 4 feet inboard of the wing tip tanks, the displacement of the engine, the separation of the left side of the firewall from the fuselage, and the separation of the left and right main landing gear and nose landing gear assemblies. According to an FAA Inspector, there was approximately 60 gallons of fuel remaining on-board the airplane. The fuel was located within the left wing tank and the left and right wing-tip tanks. The right wing tank was empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6960P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6960P-2006-04-21), registration cancelled 2006-04-21, S/N 24-2098, built 1960 (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 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2098 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2003, 8 hours before - Departed: AVQ, Tucson, AZ - Destination: FFM, Fergus Falls, MN - Airport: E80, Alexander Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 30, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 191 total, 42 in this make and model, 115 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 27 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 20030314004979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030314004979A), Mar 14, 2003: Piper PA24250, Belen, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On 03/14/2003 at approx 0730 MST, a Piper PA-24-250, N6960P, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a… ## Other investigations on N6960P (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 NYC68D0018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0018), May 28, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N6960P), Ithaca, NY, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI66F0632](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0632), Mar 18, 1966: Piper PA-24 (N6960P), Johnstown, OH, 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.