# NTSB NYC81FGM14: Piper PA-38, N2552D, Beaver Falls, PA, March 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 21, 1981
- Place: Beaver Falls, PA · BEAVER FALLS, PA
- Location: 40.7594° N, 80.3226° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beaver Falls, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7594&lon=-80.3226&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 22, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FGM14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FGM14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0423  81/3/21    BEAVER FALLS,PA     PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 18, 49 TOTAL
        TIME - 1715                    N2552D              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BEAVER COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BEAVER FALLS,PA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INATTENTIVE TO FUEL SUPPLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FUEL SELECTOR PSND TO EMPTY RGT TNK.FUEL RMNG IN L TNK.LNDD ON GOLF COURSE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2552D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2552D), registered now, S/N 38-79A0368, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-235-L2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-235-l2c) (registry code 42035, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Beaver County

## 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 19810321012709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810321012709A), Mar 21, 1981: Piper PA38112, Beaver Falls, PA, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Landing on a golf tree, struck a tree. Found fuel selector on empty tank.

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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