# NTSB DEN92LA011: Piper PA-22-135, N3745A, Siebert, CO, December 2, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1991, 20:30 local (Dec 2, 1991, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Siebert, CO
- Coordinates: 39.290477, -102.859107 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2905&lon=-102.8591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18182/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA011

## Probable cause

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A PLUGGED VENT IN THE TANK FILLER CAP, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,vent - blocked(total) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RAN DRY AND THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING.  THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, DUE TO THE VENT IN THE TANK FILLER CAP BEING PLUGGED.  A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO ROUGH UP SLOPE TERRAIN IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS.  DURING THE LANDING, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3745A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3745A-1994-06-27), registration cancelled 1994-06-27, S/N 221988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1988
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bolton, Chris A./Jeanne C.
- Registered owner: Bolton, Chris A./Jeanne C.
- Departed: OK68, MEDFORD, OR
- Destination: FNL, FT COLLINS, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 473 total, 473 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 295° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19911201053969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911201053969A), Dec 1, 1991: Piper PA22135, Seibert, CO, Substantial damage. Ran a tank dry, unable restart on other. Flipped over on night forced landing. Wrong gasket on fuel tank cap.

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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