# NTSB DEN99LA046: Piper PA-23C-250, N6574Y, Lamar, CO, February 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 27, 1999, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Lamar, CO - Coordinates: 38.079216, -102.609291 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0792&lon=-102.6093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45865 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45865/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of the airplane's fuel tank selector switches. Factors were the fuel starvation to both engines, the pilot's lack of sleep, and the soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - fuel tank selector position - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot worked all day on February 26, 1999, and took a late night flight from Seattle, Washington, arriving in Fort Worth, Texas, at approximately 0530. He flew the accident airplane which he was planning to purchase, for approximately one hour. He departed Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, with 144 gallons of fuel on board, for Denver, Colorado. The pilot reported that he used all the fuel in the auxiliary tanks and switched back to the mains. Approximately 20 minutes later, the left engine lost power. He attempted to manipulate the fuel cross-feed system, and to restart the left engine. He turned the airplane towards Lamar, Colorado, and then the right engine lost power. During the forced landing, the nose wheel landing gear separated from the airplane, and subsequently damaged the nose cone and both engine mounts. Postaccident examination of the main fuel tanks revealed that approximately 8 gallons had been used from each. No evidence was found during the investigation to indicate that there were any abnormalities in the fuel feed system. ## Factual narrative On February 27, 1999, approximately 1215 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-23C Aztec, N6574Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lamar, Colorado. The airline transport certificated pilot and his airline transport pilot certificated passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight that originated from Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, approximately 3 hours, 5 minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he worked all day on February 26, 1999, and he took a late flight from Seattle to Fort Worth. The previous owner of the airplane stated that "one of his partners picked up the pilot and his passenger from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport at approximately 0530." The pilot reported that he flew N6574 for approximately one hour in the Fort Worth area "to check the airplane out, and get used to it." He stated that after "some breakfast," he departed Fort Worth Meacham International Airport for Denver, Colorado, with 144 gallons of fuel onboard. According to the pilot, he had used all the fuel in the auxiliary tanks and had switched back to the main tanks. Approximately 20 minutes later, the left engine lost power. The pilot attempted to manipulate the fuel cross-feed system, and he made several restart attempts of the left engine. He turned the airplane towards Lamar, Colorado, and then the right engine lost power. He landed the airplane in an alfalfa field approximately 425 miles from where it departed. During landing roll, he pulled the airplane back into the air to hop an irrigation ditch. The field on the other side was freshly plowed and the nose wheel landing gear separated from the airplane when it contacted the soft earth. Subsequently, the nose cone was pushed up and back, and both engine mounts were bent. Postaccident examination of the main fuel tanks revealed that approximately 8 gallons had been used from each. No evidence was found during the investigation to indicate that there were any abnormalities in the fuel feed system. ## Aircraft - Registration: N6574Y (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23C-250 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-3872 - Airframe hours: 3753 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Methow Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1998, 38 hours before - Departed: FTW, FORT WORTH, TX - Destination: APA, DENVER, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,300 total, 50 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAA, 20 nm away ## 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 19990227014969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990227014969A), Feb 27, 1999: Piper PA23250, Lamar, CO, Substantial damage. (.19)On February 27, 1999, approxiamtely 1210 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-23-250 aztec, N6574Y, was substantially damaged during a 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. --- 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.