# NTSB DEN66D0320: Piper PA-28, N8580W, Gila Bend, AZ, April 22, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 22, 1966
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ · GILA BEND, AZ
- Location: 32.9478° N, 112.7168° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gila Bend, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9478&lon=-112.7168&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 172228
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN66D0320
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66D0320

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1097  66/4/22    GILA BEND ARIZ      PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, UNK/NR
        TIME - 2000                    N8580W              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - COSMOS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PILOT SAID HE BELIEVED HE POSITIONED FUEL SELECTOR BETWEEN TANKS JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8580W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8580W-1972-02-29), registration cancelled 1972-02-29, S/N 28-10092 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Cosmos

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.

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