# NTSB FTW91LA127: Piper PA-24-400, N8507P, Nashville, AR, July 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1991, 17:08 local (22:08 UTC)
- Place: Nashville, AR
- Coordinates: 33.939823, -93.849662 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9398&lon=-93.8497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23370
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23370/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA127

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A BLOCKED FINGER FUEL STRAINER IN THE FUEL SERVO UNIT. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - fuel system,screen - blocked(total) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A PRIVATE PILOT ENROUTE TO OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, WAS MAKING AN INTERMEDIATE REFUELING STOP WHEN HE NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY LOW FUEL FLOW, FOLLOWED BY A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE PILOT INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO RESTORE NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION TO NO AVAIL. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO THE ONLY AREA THAT WAS CLEAR OF HIGH VEGETATION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD IN ROLLING TERRAIN. THE ENGINE STOPPAGE WAS CAUSED BY FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF A BLOCKED FINGER FUEL STRAINER IN THE FUEL SERVO UNIT BY AN UNSPECIFIED CONTAMINANT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8507P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8507P-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 26-87 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-400
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400) (registry code 7102408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26-87
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-720 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stephan P. Schipper
- Registered owner: Stephan P. Schipper
- Departed: BRB, BROKEN BOW, OK
- Destination: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,150 total, 50 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken

## 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 19910725029899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910725029899A), Jul 25, 1991: Piper PA24400, Nashville, AR, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route. Made hard forced landing in open field. Finger fuel strainer in fuel servo blocked.

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.