# NTSB LAX95LA092: Piper PA-32-300, N8950N, Buckeye, AZ, February 1, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 1, 1995, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Buckeye, AZ
- Location: 33.3703° N, 112.5838° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Buckeye, AZ, within about 11 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3703&lon=-112.5838&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29020/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA092

## Probable cause

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## 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
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- Gear collapsed, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE CRUISING AT 6,500 FEET.  ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A FIELD.  THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED ON THE LEFT TIP TANK WHICH CONTAINED 11 GALLONS OF FUEL.  THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY.  THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND IT RAN FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AT 1,500 RPM WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED.

## Factual narrative

On February 1, 1995, at 1500 hours mountain standard time, the pilot of a Piper PA-32-300, N8950N, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced landing into a dirt field damaging the nose and main landing gear near Buckeye, Arizona.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the pleasure flight.  The aircraft departed Mesa, Arizona, at 1430 hours for a flight to Riverside, California.

According to the pilot, he lost engine power while cruising at 6,500 feet, about 30 minutes after takeoff.  Attempts to restart were unsuccessful.  The pilot selected a field south of the freeway and landed, damaging the aircraft.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the fuel tanks afterwards.  He found that the right main fuel tank was empty, the right tip tank was full; the left main fuel tank had 15 gallons, and the left tip tank had 11 gallons of fuel remaining.  The fuel selector was found positioned on the left tip tank.

The inspector supervised the starting of the engine.  It started on the first attempt and ran at 1,500 rpm for about 5 minutes without any problems noted.  The pilot wrote in his report that fuel line cavitation was suspected.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8950N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8950N), registered now, S/N 32-40751 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7740751
- Airframe hours: 2254
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harry E. Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1995, 1 hours before
- Departed: FFZ, MESA, AZ
- Destination: RAL, RIVERSIDE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,035 total, 300 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19950201003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950201003519A), Feb 1, 1995: Piper PA32300, Buckeye, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Damaged landing in a rough field. No anomalies except right tank empty. Left main aux full.

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.

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