# NTSB LAX06CA176: Piper PA-24-250, N7857P, Carson City, NV, May 19, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2006, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.333332, -119.75 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3333&lon=-119.7500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63735 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63735/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA176 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate fuel system management, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The airplane landed gear up during a forced landing in a field following an in-flight loss of engine power. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power after about an hour's flight. The pilot pulled the carburetor heat on first, and then turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, but power was not restored. The pilot then turned the fuel selector from the left main fuel tank to the left auxiliary tank and waited for 1 minute. Power was still not restored. He switched to the right auxiliary fuel tank but still nothing happened. The pilot attempted to restore power by using the primer to pump fuel to the engine. The pilot committed to an off-field landing in an alfalfa field after failing to restore engine power. After clearing power lines, the pilot extended full flaps and opted not to extend his landing gear. An inspection performed at the scene of the accident by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed that both main fuel tanks were completely dry and both auxiliary fuel tanks were full. An inspector placed the fuel selector on the auxiliary tank position and turned on the boost pump. After several seconds, the fuel system pressurized and operated normally. No mechanical problems were found with the fuel system or the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2006, about 1115 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7857P, performed a gear up forced landing following a loss of engine power near Carson City, Nevada. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country flight departed Rio Vista, California, municipal airport about 1010, with a planned destination of Minden, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a written report. He departed Rio Vista and flew north of Reno at 9,000 feet to avoid bad weather over Lake Tahoe. He contacted Reno approach control 10 miles east of Truckee, California, and stayed in contact with them throughout the flight. At this point, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. He pulled the carburetor heat on first, and then turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, but power was not restored. The pilot then turned the fuel selector from the main fuel tank to the left auxiliary tank and waited for 1 minute. Power was still not restored. He switched to the right auxiliary fuel tank, but still nothing happened. The pilot attempted to restore power by using the primer to pump fuel to the engine. While troubleshooting the problem, the pilot was in contact with Reno approach control about his situation. After failing to restore engine power, the pilot committed himself to an emergency landing in an alfalfa field east of Washoe Lake. After clearing power lines, the pilot extended full flaps and opted not to extend his landing gear. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site, and submitted a written report. The inspection revealed that both main fuel tanks were completely dry and both auxiliary fuel tanks were full. The inspector placed the fuel selector on the auxiliary tank, and turned on the boost pump. After several seconds, the fuel system pressurized, and operated normally. He found no mechanical problems with the fuel system or the airplane. According to the Piper Comanche, PA-24-250, Pilot Operating Handbook, the most common cause of an engine failure is mismanagement or malfunction of the fuel system. In this situation, the handbook says the first thing the pilot should do is "move the fuel selector valve to the tank not being used." This will often keep the engine running if there is no fuel system malfunction. If switching the fuel selector does not restore the engine, the pilot should check fuel pressure, turn on the electric fuel pump, push mixture control to full "RICH," apply carburetor heat, and check the ignition switch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7857P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7857P-2007-02-05), registration cancelled 2007-02-05, S/N 24-3080, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 243080 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dennis M. Hope - Registered owner: Lester A. Conklin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2005 - Departed: 088, Rio Vista, CA - Destination: MEV, Minden, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,605 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast ## 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 20060519008749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060519008749A), May 19, 2006: Piper PA24250, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 19, 2006 at approximately 9:46 a.m. the pilot [privacy data omitted] was flying a Piper pa 24 aircraft, N7857P in the vicinity of washoe lake and… ## Other investigations on N7857P (2) 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. - [NTSB FTW66D0418](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66D0418), Oct 15, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N7857P), Tulsa, OK, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X2185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2185), Jun 8, 1964: Piper PA-24 (N7857P), Quatro Palms, Mexico, destroyed 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.