# NTSB SEA07LA178: Piper PA 24-250, N7584P, Flagstaff, AZ, June 23, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2007, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Flagstaff, AZ - Coordinates: 35.11861, -111.13639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1186&lon=-111.1364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66065 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66065/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA178 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion, as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel and inadequate preflight planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven - object - fence ## Analysis The engine lost power during flight and the pilot force-landed the airplane in a field and collided with a fence. The pilot was intending to fly to an airport to purchase fuel. Prior to departure, the pilot assumed he had 20 gallons of fuel onboard. About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. Post accident examination of the fuel tanks revealed that there was no fuel present in the fuel tanks. In addition, there was no fuel staining or leakage evident. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2007, at 1320 mountain standard time, a Piper PA 24-250, N7584P, lost engine power during cruise flight and force landed about 25 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona. The pilot owned the airplane and was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot departed Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff, at 1300. According to the pilot, he was intending to fly to Holbrook Municipal Airport, Holbrook, Arizona, to purchase fuel. Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. The pilot switched from the left main fuel tank to the right main fuel tank; however, the engine did not regain power. The pilot then force-landed the airplane and collided with a fence. The pilot reported in a written statement that he was intending to purchase fuel. He checked the fuel level in the right and left main tanks and noted that there was fuel present. He estimated approximately 20 gallons were onboard the airplane. Prior to takeoff, he checked the engine monitoring instrument and noted that he would have about 6 gallons remaining upon landing at Holbrook. After departure, the pilot elected to take a diversion to the south to fly over a landmark. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. After troubleshooting, the pilot began preparing for an off-field landing. He flew toward Interstate 40, which was 2-3 miles north of his position. After turning to the freeway, he began troubleshooting again. Once the airplane was within 1/4-mile of the interstate, the airframe began to buffet and the pilot pushed forward on the yoke. He noted the airspeed at 74 knots indicated and pulled aft on the yoke. The airplane was descending much more rapidly than normal and he tried to slow the descent by pulling aft on the yoke. He could not slow the descent of the airplane and it landed short of the freeway in a field and collided with a fence. During the landing, the landing gear broke free and the wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the airplane's last refueling was on June 20, 2007. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office personnel responded to the accident site. The officer on-scene checked each of the fuel tanks using a flashlight. There was no visible fuel in any of the fuel tanks and there was no evidence of fuel staining or leakage. The smell of fuel was not evident. Recovery personnel reported that no fuel was recovered from the fuel tanks during the aircraft removal from the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7584P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7584P-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 24-2795, built 1961 (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: 24-2795 - Airframe hours: 4338.2 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-540-A1DS 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Andrew Silver - Registered owner: Andrew Silver - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2006, 100 hours before - Departed: FLG, Flagstaff, AZ - Destination: P14, Holbrook, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 440 total, 166 in this make and model, 374 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: FLG, 27 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 20070623013399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070623013399A), Jun 23, 2007: Piper PA24250, Flagstaff, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 23, 2007, at 1320 mountain standard time, a Piper pa 24-250, N7584P, lost engine power during cruise flight and force landed approximately 27… 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.