# NTSB NYC92LA012: Piper PA-24-260, N9122P, Montgomery, NY, October 19, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1991, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Montgomery, NY
- Coordinates: 41.640888, -73.559417 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6409&lon=-73.5594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37093
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37093/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA012

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO CORRECTLY POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS EXHAUSTED, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb
  - fuel tank selector position - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE QUIT THEN STARTED AGAIN. THE ENGINE THEN FAILED TOTALLY, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE HIT TREES. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION SHOWED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK EMPTY, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL AND BOTH AUXILIARY TANKS WERE FULL. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE SWITCH WAS IN THE 'OFF' POSITION, FUEL BOOST PUMP IN THE 'ON' POSITION, AND FUEL STRAINER AND SUMP VOID OF ANY FUEL. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND HAD A TOTAL OF 2 FLIGHT HOURS IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9122P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9122P-1992-01-16), registration cancelled 1992-01-16, S/N 244601 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4601
- Airframe hours: 3532
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: David H. Balsan
- Registered owner: Klaus Reyroth
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000, 6 hours before
- Destination: 41N, WEST MILFORD, NJ
- Airport: MGJ, Orange County, runway 21, 5,006 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 850 total, 2 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19911019047219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911019047219A), Oct 19, 1991: Piper PA24260, Montgomery, NY, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Landed in trees. Right tank empty left half full. Aux full. Fuel selector in off position.

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.