# NTSB DEN04CA073: Piper PA-25-235, N8586L, Flagler, CO, May 22, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 22, 2004, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Flagler, CO - Coordinates: 39.275001, -104.071662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2750&lon=-104.0717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59275 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59275/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA073 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude, low airspeed, and the inoperative fuel quantity gauge. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - low (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot said he was aerial spraying 15 miles south of Flagler, Colorado. He said he refueled the airplane the load before the accident with 15 to 20 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported his bubble fuel gage indicated he had 10 to 15 gallons of fuel. The pilot said he was in a turn, reversing course to make his last pass on a field before returning to the airstrip. About 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot said he leveled the wings, put the nose down, and thought he would be okay. He said however, he had no airspeed to flare and hit the ground hard. The airplane's main landing gear and right wing were broken aft. The pilot said he was "100 percent certain" that he ran out of fuel. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2004, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N8586L, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain 15 miles south of Flagler, Colorado. The commercial pilot on board reported no injuries. The local aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Part 137 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at approximately 1000. In his written statement, the pilot reported he was aerial spraying 15 miles south of Flagler. He said he refueled the airplane the load before the accident with 15 to 20 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported his bubble fuel gage indicated he had 10 to 15 gallons of fuel. The pilot said he was in a turn, reversing course to make his last pass on a field before returning to the airstrip. About 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot said he leveled the wings, put the nose down, and thought he would be okay. He said however he had no airspeed to flare and hit the ground hard. In an interview shortly after the accident, the pilot said he was "100 percent certain" that he ran out of fuel. The pilot said that the indicator ball in the bubble fuel gage had remained at 10 gallons for some time. He said the ball usually "jiggles." The pilot said he suspected something was wrong and was going to check it out after he landed. An examination of the airplane showed the main landing gear separated aft. The right wing was broken aft at the fuselage. The cowling was crushed aft and one propeller blade was bent aft underneath the cowling. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8586L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8586L-2006-09-08), registration cancelled 2006-09-08, S/N 25-5010, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-5010 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ron Seelhoff, doing business as Seelhoff Aerial Spraying - Registered owner: Dan Silkman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Flagler, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 6,100 total, 100 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040522010249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040522010249A), May 22, 2004: Piper PA25235, Flager, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On the morning of 22 may 2004, pilot ronald seelhoff, was conducting an aerial spraying operation 15 miles south of flagler Colorado. Mr. Seelhoff had… ## Other investigations on N8586L (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 MKC81FCQ22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FCQ22), Apr 2, 1981: Piper PA-25 (N8586L), Norton, KS, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA74FYA07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74FYA07), Aug 2, 1973: Piper PA-25 (N8586L), Goshen, ID, destroyed 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.