# NTSB SEA99LA100: Piper PA-31-350, N3528Y, Garden Valley, ID, July 3, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1999, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Garden Valley, ID - Coordinates: 44.07986, -115.849426 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0799&lon=-115.8494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46818/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA100 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion because the pilot failed to refuel the airplane. A ditch in the landing area was a contributing factor in the accident. ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise configuration, the low fuel pressure lights illuminated and the left engine began to surge. The pilot selected cross-feed and the engine functioned normally . Three to four minutes after selecting cross-feed, the left engine began to surge again. With the right engine still operating, the pilot secured the left engine and executed a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with a ditch and the nose gear collapsed, causing substantial damage to the aircraft's fuselage. An FAA inspector inspected the aircraft after the accident and reported that there was no evidence of fuel in the aircraft's fuel tanks. He also stated the fuel system was not breached and there was no evidence of a preexisting fuel leak. In a written statement, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 1999, about 1200 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N3528Y, registered to Mountain Bird, Inc. and operated by Salmon Air, Salmon, Idaho, as a 14CFR135 non-scheduled passenger flight, was substantially damaged after a forced landing near Garden Valley, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was on file. The commercial pilot and five passengers were not injured; two passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Lemhi County Airport, Salmon, Idaho, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. The flight's original destination was Boise, Idaho. There was no report of fire or ELT activation. The pilot reported that while in cruise configuration, the low fuel pressure lights illuminated and the left engine began to surge. The pilot selected cross-feed and the engine functioned normally . Three to four minutes after selecting cross-feed the left engine began to surge again. With the right engine still operating, the pilot secured the left engine and executed a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll (approximately 30 knots), the aircraft collided with a ditch and the nose gear collapsed, causing substantial damage to the aircraft's fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Boise Flight Standards District Office, Boise, Idaho, inspected the aircraft after the accident and reported that there was no evidence of fuel in the aircraft's fuel tanks. He also stated the fuel system was not breached and there was no evidence of a preexisting fuel leak. In a written statement, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: N3528Y (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 317952149 - Airframe hours: 8559 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Salmon Air, Inc., doing business as Salmon Air - Registered owner: Mountain Bird Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 3, 1999, 39 hours before - Departed: SMN, SALMON, ID - Destination: BOI, BOISE, ID - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,050 total, 35 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BOI, 33 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 19990703008039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990703008039A), Jul 3, 1999: Piper PA31350, Garden City, ND, Substantial damage. Salmon air air taxi landed in a mountain meadow for unknown reasons, struck a berm, and the nose gear collapsed, the acft has substantial damage, no injuries… 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.