# NTSB FTW80FQD16: Piper PA-38, N2471D, El Paso, TX, September 20, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 20, 1980
- Place: El Paso, TX · EL PASO, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FQD16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQD16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2315  80/9/20  NR.EL PASO,TX         PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 29, 36 TOTAL
        TIME - 1500                    N2471D              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CARLSBAD,NM                 LAS CRUCES,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INATTENTIVE TO FUEL SUPPLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - SANDY
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- RT TANK DRY,LFT TANK HAD FUEL.FUEL SELECTOR ON RT TANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2471D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2471D-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 3879A0326 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (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 19800920042569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800920042569A), Sep 20, 1980: Piper PA38112, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot crashed during attempted emergency landing. Fuel selector on emptytank.

## Other investigations on N2471D (1)

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 LAX89LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA274), Aug 13, 1989: Piper PA-38-112 (N2471D), Benson, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S ANXIOUSNESS IN…

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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