# NTSB DEN74FTE23: Piper PA-32, N4181R, Eagle, CO, October 6, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 6, 1973
- Place: Eagle, CO · EAGLE, CO
- Location: 39.6432° N, 106.8213° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eagle, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6432&lon=-106.8213&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74FTE23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FTE23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4006   73/10/6   EAGLE,COLO          PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1400                    N4181R              PX-  0  0  7  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 30, 3285 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            200 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EAGLE,COLO                  LANDER,WYO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: SELECTOR VALVES
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN MATERIAL AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- LINT IN SELECTOR VALVE ALLOWED AIR FROM EMPTY TANK TO ENTER FUEL LINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4181R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4181R-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 32-40511, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19731006030499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731006030499A), Oct 6, 1973: Piper PA32300, Eagle, CO, Substantial damage. Lint in selector valve allowed air from empty tank to enter fuel line.

## Other investigations on N4181R (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 FTW79FPD30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FPD30), Jul 19, 1979: Piper PA-32 (N4181R), Ft.Worth, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW69F0307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0307), Nov 28, 1968: Piper PA-32 (N4181R), El Paso, TX, 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.