# NTSB LAX01LA147: Piper PA-28-235, N8731W, Flagstaff, AZ, April 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2001, 12:24 local (19:24 UTC) - Place: Flagstaff, AZ - Coordinates: 35.29079, -111.319923 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2908&lon=-111.3199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52104 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52104/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA147 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons that resulted in a forced landing in rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven - landing gear - sheared ## Analysis During a forced landing precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise flight, the pilot made an off-airport landing and all three landing gear sheared off. The pilot selected the right tip fuel tank for the portion of the flight from Cedar City, Utah, to Page, Arizona. He then switched to the left tip fuel tank. The engine lost power approximately 20 to 30 minutes after switching fuel tanks. After the power loss, the pilot did not switch fuel tanks because he believed there was "ample fuel in left tip." The pilot initially decided to land on a major highway, but as he approached, traffic necessitated an off-road landing on rough and uneven terrain. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2001, about 1224 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-235, N8731W, sustained substantial damage when it made a hard, forced landing near a highway following a loss of engine power about 30 miles northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona. The pilot was operating the borrowed airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal cross-country flight departed Cedar City, Utah, about 1130, en route to Deer Valley, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration)accident coordinator interviewed the pilot. The pilot said he completed a 2.5-hour flight from Deer Valley to Cedar City in the morning and did not experience any problems with the airplane. He filled all four fuel tanks in Cedar City. He started the return flight on the right wing tip tank. He switched to the left wing tip tank near Page, Arizona. About 20 minutes later the engine began to run rough, and then it lost all power. The pilot did not switch fuel tanks again. In his statement to the Safety Board, the pilot stated he did not switch fuel tanks because he believed there was "ample fuel in left tip." The pilot set up to land on a highway, but a traffic conflict forced him to land in terrain alongside the road. He landed the airplane approximately 70 yards from the highway and all three landing gear sheared off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8731W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8731W-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N 28-10266, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10266 - Airframe hours: 4308 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 2000 - Departed: CDC, CEDAR CITY, UT - Destination: DVT, DEER VALLEY, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 6, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 262 total, 20 in this make and model, 262 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: FLG, 35 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 20010414006939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010414006939A), Apr 14, 2001: Piper PA28235, Flagstaff, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On April 14, 2001, about 1224 hours MST a Piper PA-28-235, N8731W, sustained substantial damage when it made a hard, forced landing on a highway… 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.