- Date
- July 27, 1996, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Moriarity, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7469ZPiper PA-25-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960727020179A
- Case key
- 19925
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane took off from runway 26 on the fifth glider tow of the day. While climbing through 400 feet AGL, the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a pasture. During touchdown, the airplane crossed a dirt road and the left main gear collapsed. The pilot stated that he performed a detailed preflight of the airplane prior to the first tow of the day, and found that the aircraft was serviced with 20 gallons of fuel. He further stated that 20 gallons is normally sufficient for 6 or 7 tows, but on the day of the accident the tows were 'exceptionally long due to the general subsidence of the air mass along with high density altitude.' Examination of the fuel system revealed that both fuel cells were empty.
Factual narrative
On July 27, 1996, at 1500 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7469Z, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Moriarity, New Mexico. The airplane was owned and operated by the Albuquerque Soaring Club Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the glider towing flight. The flight originated at the Moriarity Airport, approximately 3 minutes prior to the accident.
According to an officer of the soaring club, the airplane took off from runway 26 on the fifth tow of the day. After executing a slight left turn, while climbing through approximately 400 feet AGL, the engine lost power. The pilot rocked the wings 3 times to signal to the glider to release and proceeded to execute a forced landing to an open pasture 2 miles southwest of the airport.
During touchdown, the airplane crossed a dirt road with a double track of 8 inches deep set of tire tracks running perpendicular to the path of the airplane. The left main gear collapsed resulting in structural damage to the left wing and airframe. The glider being towed released from the tow plane and landed at the airport without further incident.
In the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he performed a detailed preflight of the airplane prior to the first tow of the day and found that the aircraft was serviced with 20 gallons of fuel. He further stated that 20 gallons is normally sufficient for 6 or 7 tows, but on the day of the accident the tows were "exceptionally long due to the general subsidence of the air mass along with high density altitude." Examination of the fuel system revealed that both fuel cells were empty.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7469Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-3471
- Airframe hours
- 4,918
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-G1A5, 240 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Albuquerque Soaring Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 28, 1996 · 124 hours before
- Departed
- OEO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 4,222 total · 272 in this make and model · 4,171 as pilot in command · 64 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 235° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7469Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.