# NTSB DEN71FQD18: Piper PA-23, N1276P, Tularosa, NM, April 26, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 26, 1971
- Place: Tularosa, NM · TULAROSA, NM
- Location: 33.0750° N, 106.0173° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tularosa, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0750&lon=-106.0173&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160355
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN71FQD18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN71FQD18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0058  71/4/26    TULAROSA,N MEX      PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 7300
        TIME - 0751                    N1276P              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 220 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CORTEZ,N MEX                RUIDOSO,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           WHEELS-UP                                                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 - MISCALCULATED FUEL CONSUMPTION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FAILURE OF TWO OR MORE ENGINES
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     240
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           30                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ALL TANKS EMPTY. DIVERTED IN FLT DUE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AT DEST. R FUEL GAUGE STUCK AT 1/2 POS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1276P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1276P-1979-11-09), registration cancelled 1979-11-09, S/N 23-307 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-150) (registry code 7102303) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N1276P (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 LAX68F0252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68F0252), Jan 5, 1968: Piper PA-23 (N1276P), Van Nuys, CA, 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.

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