# NTSB DEN04LA032: Piper PA-12, N4159M, Edgewood, NM, December 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 2003, 17:10 local (Dec 23, 2003, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Edgewood, NM - Coordinates: 35.094444, -106.167221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0944&lon=-106.1672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58523/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA032 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making. Factors contributing to the accident include the resulting fuel exhaustion, the snow covered field and the fence. ## Analysis The pilot departed the morning of the accident with an estimated 16 gallons of fuel on board. Due to headwinds, the flight duration was slightly longer than anticipated. For the afternoon return flight, the pilot diverted to the west of his route due to overcast conditions, again, extending the duration of the flight. Approximately 7 miles west of his destination, the engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing on a snow covered field. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane prior to impacting a fence causing substantial damage. According to the FAA inspector at the scene, the fuel tanks were empty and no fuel was present in the carburetor. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 2003 at 1710 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-12, N4159M was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence during a forced landing 7 miles west of Sandia Airpark (1N1), Edgewood, New Mexico. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Los Alamos Airport (LAM), Los Alamos, New Mexico, at 1630. According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he departed 1N1 for LAM (30 minutes of flight time) the morning of the accident with an estimated 16 gallons of fuel on board. Due to headwinds, the flight duration was closer to .7 hours. For the afternoon return flight to 1N1, the pilot diverted to the west of Santa Fe, New Mexico, due to overcast conditions. Approximately 7 miles west of 1N1, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that the ground was covered with approximately 1 1/2 inches of snow. During the forced landing, the pilot was unable to stop the airplane prior to impacting a fence. The left wing tip was crushed, the left landing gear collapsed in and back towards the fuselage, the top portion of the fuselage between the wings was crushed and the propeller was bent. According to the FAA inspector at the scene, the fuel tanks were empty and no fuel was present in the carburetor. An examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The pilot reported that due to the angle of the airplane while sitting on the ramp and the position of the fuel gauge floats, it was not possible to verify the amount of fuel in the tanks. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4159M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4159M), registered now, S/N 12-3058, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-3058 - Airframe hours: 1450 - Engines: Lycoming O320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2003, 50 hours before - Departed: LAM, Los Alamos, NM - Destination: 1N1, Edgewood, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 8, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,948 total, 129 in this make and model, 2,767 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 360° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 22 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 20031222033569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031222033569A), Dec 22, 2003: Piper PA12, Edgewood, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) Acft accident was reported to have occurred approx. 3.2 NM nw of the sandia airpark (destination). Upon on scene inspection by two FAA inspectors it was… ## Other investigations on N4159M (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 GAA18CA530](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA530), Jul 29, 2018: Piper PA 12 (N4159M), Edgewood, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. 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.