# NTSB FTW97LA371: Siai-Marchetti F.260, N260MT, Santa Rosa, NM, September 30, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 1997, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, NM - Location: 34.9361° N, 104.6750° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Rosa, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9361&lon=-104.6750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20363/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA371 ## Probable cause improper planning/decision by the pilot, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. A related 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 - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis Approximately 20 minutes before reaching a planned fuel stop at Santa Rosa, NM, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a dirt road. During the descent, he 'attempted a restart w/opposite wing tank selected;' however, the engine did not start. The pilot reported that his 'last fuel check indicated 1/8 - 1/4 fuel in both wing tanks, wing tip tanks empty.' During the landing roll, the nose landing gear impacted a ditch separating its wheel. The aircraft continued across the dirt road, crossed another ditch, and nosed over. Examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that the fuel selector was in the left tip tank position. The main fuel tanks and the wing tip tanks were 'void of fuel,' and 'there were not any fuel stains on the aircraft or the ground.' Only residual fuel was found in the fuel line to the gascolator and in the gascolator, and the carburetor fuel bowl had approximately 0.5 ounce of fuel. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 1997, at 1530 mountain daylight time, a Siai-Marchetti F.260 airplane, N260MT, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross country flight. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Palm Springs, California, about 3 hours 45 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported on the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that he fueled the airplane prior to departing Palm Springs, California, and planned to stop at Santa Rosa, New Mexico, for fuel. Approximately 20 minutes prior to the Santa Rosa Municipal Airport, at the beginning of initial descent, the airplane's engine lost power. He initiated a forced landing to a dirt road, which was located approximately 1/2 mile south of Interstate 40. During descent the he "attempted a restart w/opposite wing tank selected;" however, the engine did not start. The pilot further reported that his "last fuel check indicated 1/8 - 1/4 fuel in both wing tanks, wing tip tanks empty." Examination of the accident site by two FAA inspectors revealed that during the landing roll, the aircraft's nose landing gear impacted a ditch separating its wheel. The aircraft continued across the dirt road, crossed another ditch and nosed over to the inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspectors revealed that the vertical stabilizer's aft spar was fractured. The right wing's spar was buckled and cracked two feet from the wing tip. The left and right wing tip tanks were damaged, and the fuselage was wrinkled. The nose landing gear was separated at the fork, and the right main landing gear was collapsed. Examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that the fuel selector was found in the left tip tank position. The main fuel tanks and the wing tip tanks were "void of fuel," and "there were not any fuel stains on the aircraft or the ground." The carburetor fuel bowl had approximately 0.5 ounce of fuel, and residual fuel was found in the fuel line to the gascolator and the gascolator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N260MT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N260MT), registered now, S/N 3-80, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Siai-Marchetti F.260 - Registry model: [Siai-Marchetti F.260](https://openairdocs.org/model/siai-marchetti-f-260) (registry code 8121206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-E4A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-e4a5) (registry code 42341, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3-80 - Airframe hours: 2800 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dee L. Conger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 1997, 10 hours before - Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA - Destination: Q58, SANTO ROSA, NM - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,750 total, 14 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TCC, 53 nm away ## 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 19970930029239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970930029239A), Sep 30, 1997: Mrchti F260, Santa Rosa, NM, Substantial damage. Lost power enroute near fueling stop Q58. Damaged F260 landing on dirt road. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) see narrative #FTW97LA371. 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.