# NTSB FTW96LA105: Piper PA-38-112, N598Z, Falfurrias, TX, January 19, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 19, 1996, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Falfurrias, TX - Coordinates: 27.220003, -98.13961 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2200&lon=-98.1396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19751/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA105 ## Probable cause fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The student pilot departed Brownsville, Texas for a solo cross-country flight that took him to Corpus Christi, Texas for 'touch and go's', and then to Rockport, Texas for a full-stop landing. The aircraft was refueled in Rockport and the flight continued to Alice, Texas for a full-stop landing. Approximately 25 minutes into the final leg of the cross-country flight from Alice to Brownsville, the engine lost power. When emergency procedures to restore engine power were unsuccessful, a forced landing was made into a field with soft soil. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank was full. The fuel selector was found in the left position. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 1996, at 1600 central standard time, a Piper PA- 38-112, N598Z, registered to Avlease, Inc. and operated by Flight Training Systems, Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Falfurrias, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated in Brownsville, Texas, approximately 4 hours 30 minutes before the accident. On the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he departed Brownsville for Corpus Christi, Texas, to practice "touch and go's." The flight then proceeded to Rockport, Texas, where the pilot executed a full-stop landing. While in Rockport, the fuel tanks were topped off. During the preflight, the pilot "found that both fuel tanks were full" and subsequently, the flight departed to Alice, Texas. The pilot further reported that "I did my preflight again and I found out that there was still enough fuel in both fuel [tanks] to go to Brownsville." The flight departed Alice at 1535 central standard time. Approximately 25 minutes into the return flight, the engine lost power and the "fuel pressure needle dropped to the red line." Emergency procedures by the pilot did not restore engine power. Subsequently, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field with soft soil. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector and the operator's mechanic revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, the gascolator did not contain fuel, and the right fuel tank was full. The FAA inspector reported that the fuel selector was on the left tank. Structural damage occurred to the right wing, and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N598Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N598Z-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 38-79A0353, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-79A0353 - Airframe hours: 1798 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2A 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Training Systems, Inc., doing business as Southwind - Registered owner: Avlease, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 22, 1995, 59 hours before - Departed: ALI, ALICE, TX - Destination: BRO, BROWNSVILLE, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 125 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19960119047239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960119047239A), Jan 19, 1996: Piper PA38112, Falfurrias, TX, Substantial damage. (-16) On a solo cross country flight, the engine stopped running, student pilot landed in a freshly plowed field. Left tank was empty, gascolator was empty,… 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.