# NTSB DEN91LA045: Piper PA-32-260, N3549W, Guymon, OK, February 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1991, 18:45 local (Feb 16, 1991, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Guymon, OK
- Coordinates: 36.680477, -101.479751 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6805&lon=-101.4798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18073/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA045

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE PILOT'S DELAY IN FLARING THE AIRPLANE.  A FACTOR WAS:  THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE 55 HOUR STUDENT PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE AND NOTED FUEL IN BOTH TANKS, THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINING '15 TO 16 GALLONS.'  HE TOOK OFF TO PRACTICE DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE 'COUGHED' AND LOST POWER.  THE PILOT SAID HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK. THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER MOMENTARILY, THEN QUIT AGAIN.  THE PILOT DID NOT RECALL THE IMPACT, BUT WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE NOSED INTO THE GROUND. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED 'A MEASURABLE AMOUNT OF FUEL' IN BOTH TANKS, BUT NO FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL OR FUEL PUMP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3549W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3549W-1991-06-05), registration cancelled 1991-06-05, S/N 32436 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-436
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph M. Ramirez
- Registered owner: Joseph M. Ramirez
- Airport: GUY, Guymon Municipal, runway 18, 4,299 × 100 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19910215002649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910215002649A), Feb 15, 1991: Piper PA32260, Guymon, OK, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout. Stalled on forced landing.

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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