# NTSB DEN75DQA25: Piper PA-22, N8201C, Ruidoso, NM, December 21, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1974
- Place: Ruidoso, NM · RUIDOSO, NM
- Location: 33.3495° N, 105.6688° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ruidoso, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3495&lon=-105.6688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 28, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN75DQA25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN75DQA25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4051  74/12/21   RUIDOSO,N MEX       PIPER PA-22         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 93 TOTAL
        TIME - 1625                    N8201C              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 19 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RUIDOSO MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TEX                 RUIDOSO,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT THOUGHT FUEL GAUGE SWITCH WAS ALSO FUEL TANK SELECTOR. TRIED TO LND ON ROAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8201C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8201C), registered now, S/N 22-2306 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ruidoso Muni

## 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 19741221041809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741221041809A), Dec 21, 1974: Piper PA22, Ruidoso, NM, Substantial damage. Plt thought fuel gauge switch was also fuel tank selector. Tried to lnd on road.

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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