# NTSB SEA81FYM42: Piper PA-28, N8723W, Medical Spgs, OR, September 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: September 5, 1981
- Place: Medical Spgs, OR · MEDICAL SPGS, OR
- Location: 45.0171° N, 117.6285° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Medical Springs, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0171&lon=-117.6285&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123971
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81FYM42
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81FYM42

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2681   81/9/5  NR.MEDICAL SPGS,OR    PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 513
        TIME - 1545                    N8723W              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 248 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PASCO,WA                    DONNELLY,ID
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO USE OR INCORRECTLY USED MISC.EQUIPMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT RPRTD LOSS OF PWR AFTER SEL L MAIN FUEL TNK.FUEL SEL FOUND PSND TO EMPTY L TIP TNK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8723W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8723W-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 28-10258, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810905057139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810905057139A), Sep 5, 1981: Piper PA28235, Medical Springs, OR, Substantial damage. Engine quit after pilot switched fuel tanks. Crash occurred during emergency landing on rocky terrain.

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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