# NTSB FTW81FRD30: Piper PA-38, N2500N, Lafayette, LA, June 16, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: June 16, 1981
- Place: Lafayette, LA · LAFAYETTE, LA
- Location: 30.2241° N, 92.0198° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lafayette, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2241&lon=-92.0198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125563
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRD30
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRD30

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1265  81/6/16  NR.LAFAYETTE,LA       PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 61, 80 TOTAL
        TIME - 1345                    N2500N              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 35 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          NEW ORLEANS,LA             LAFAYETTE,LA                  BATON ROUGE,LA
        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
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- ENG RAN PROPERLY WHEN FUEL SELECTOR PLACED ON LEFT TANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2500N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2500N-1982-12-21), registration cancelled 1982-12-21, S/N 38-79A0874, built 1979 (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 19810616033259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810616033259A), Jun 16, 1981: Piper PA38112, Lafayette, LA, Substantial damage. Nosed over on forced landing after engine quit. Fuel selector was on empty fuel tank.

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.