# NTSB FTW84LA133: Piper PA-31P, N3PN, Presidio, TX, February 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1984, 12:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Presidio, TX
- Coordinates: 29.559194, -104.359466 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5592&lon=-104.3595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 4 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21257
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21257/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA133

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT THE PLT COULD NOT LOCATE A REFUELING STOP AND LANDED 100 MILES AWAY. NO REFUELING WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND HE DECIDED TO GO ON TO HIS DESTINATION WITH THE FUEL REMAINING. ENROUTE HIS RIGHT ENGINE COUGHED AND HEREALIZED HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. AFTER SWITCHING TO CROSSFEED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION WAS RESTORED. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A 4000 FT DIRT AGRICULTURAL AIRSTRIP WHICH HE SAW DIRECTLY BELOW HIM. HE FORCED THE ACFT DOWN AND LANDED DOWNWIND AT HIGH SPEED ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RWY. THE ACFT DID NOT STOP ON THE RWY AND OVERRAN INTO A DIRT BANK AND A FENCE. THE LANDING GEAR WAS KNOCKED OFF AND THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE FOR 700 MORE FT BEFORE IMPACTING AND TUMBLING. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED ABOUT 825 FT PAST THE DIRT BANK. A FIRE DEVELOPED IN THE LEFT WING AND CONSUMED MOST OF THE AREA IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT FUEL TANK OUTBOARD OF THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PLT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ACFT OR SYSTEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3PN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31P-70
- Airframe hours: 2014
- Engines: LYCOMING TIGO-541-E1A 425 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas L. Parker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 1983
- Destination: TX07, PRECIDIO, TX
- Airport: runway 11, 4,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,207 total, 500 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19840215003389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840215003389A), Feb 15, 1984: Piper PA31P, Presidio, TX, Destroyed. Off course and near fuel exhaustion. Tried to land downwind on an ag strip. Overshot the runway. Cartwheeled, burned.

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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