# NTSB SEA91LA247: Piper PA-24-250, N7985P, Arco, ID, September 19, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1991, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Arco, ID - Coordinates: 43.649368, -113.279106 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6494&lon=-113.2791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41544 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41544/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA247 ## Probable cause WATER IN THE FUEL TANK AND THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO FLARE FOR LANDING AFTER MANEUVERING TO AVOID TRANSMISSION LINES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH DURING THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - object - wire,transmission - maneuver - performed, pilot in command - flare - not possible, pilot in command ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED ON A SLOPE LEFT WING LOW AND HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO RAIN PRIOR TO THE FLT. THE PLT SUMPED ALL 4 FUEL TANKS AND THEN VISUALLY DETERMINED THAT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE 1 HOUR FLT TO DESTINATION. AFTER DEPARTING ON THE RIGHT MAIN TANK AND BRIEFLY USING BOTH AUX TANKS AND APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES INTO THE FLT HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MISSING. BELIEVING THAT HE HAD NO FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT AUX WHICH HE EXHAUSTED AND BACK TO RIGHT MAIN WHICH WAS ALSO EXHAUSTED. AFTER A TOTAL OF 55 MINUTES OF FLT AND WHILE APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN POWER ON THE RIGHT AUX AND EXECUTED A FORCED LDG. DURING THE APPROACH HE DETERMINED THAT POWER LINES INTERFERED WITH HIS LANDING AND MANEUVERED TO AN ALTERNATE LDG SITE. THIS MANEUVER RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO SAFELY FLARE DUE TO SINK RATE AND LOW AIRSPEED AND A HARD LDG FOLLOWED. A TOTAL OF 5 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT MAIN TANK SUBSEQUENT TO THE FORCED LDG. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7985P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7985P), registered now, S/N 24-3223 (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: 24-3223 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C1B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert D. Bowman - Registered owner: Robert D. Bowman - Departed: U81, COLD MEADOWS, ID - Destination: U57, ARCO-BUTTE, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,715 total, 1,330 in this make and model, 1,715 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19910919042269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910919042269A), Sep 19, 1991: Piper PA24250, Arco, ID, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route after running 3 or 4 tanks out of usable fuel. High sink rate landing. Believe ice blocked fuel ## Other investigations on N7985P (2) 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. - [NTSB GAA15CA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA178), Jul 4, 2015: Piper PA 24-250 (N7985P), Newton, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the right main landing gear down-lock micro switch, which resulted in a landing gear collapse during landing, and the pilot/owner's unfamiliarity with the emergency landing gear… - [NTSB SEA75DYA24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA75DYA24), Nov 27, 1974: Piper PA-24 (N7985P), Arco, ID, substantial damage 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.