# NTSB WPR26LA089: Piper PA-23, N1210P, Newkirk, NM, January 22, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 22, 2026, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Newkirk, NM · Ranchers Field - Coordinates: 35.074592, -104.2892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0746&lon=-104.2892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202335/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202335 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA089 ## Probable cause The pilots inadequate preflight planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent landing on rough terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102302), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102302), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102302), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-23, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102302), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Piper PA-23, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=7102302), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102302), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-23, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102302), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor were conducting a 1,020 nautical mile (nm) cross-country flight, with multiple planned fuel stops. Upon arrival at one of their planned fuel stops, they discovered that no fuel was available at the airport. The pilots elected to proceed to another airport located about 53 nm away. While enroute at an altitude of about 6,500 ft, the left and right engines began sputtering. The flight instructor stated that they were running out of fuel, and shortly thereafter, both engines experienced a complete loss of engine power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilots conducted an off-airport landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the surface, resulting in substantial damage to the right-wing spar. A post-accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the left-wing fuel tank was empty, while the right wing contained a small, undetermined amount of fuel. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) which advised fuel was not available at the airport was issued about 1 month prior to the accident and was still in effect at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1210P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1210P), registered now, S/N 23-226, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-226 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 5959.15 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A3B 150 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-320-A3B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ram-10-P, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2025, 90 hours before - Departed: TCC, Tucumcari, NM - Destination: SXU, Santa Rosa, NM - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 416.5 total, 275.3 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2.5 in the last 30 days, 1.1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2025; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 7,355 total, 55 in this make and model, 7,188 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KTCC, 34 nm away - METAR: METAR KTCC 221853Z AUTO 29008KT 10SM CLR 13/M11 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP128 T01331111 $ ## 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 20260122002359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260122002359A), Jan 22, 2026: Piper PA-23, Newkirk, NM, Substantial damage. On Thursday 02/22/2026 at 1200 hours a Piper pa 23 aircraft had an accident while executing an emergency landing after a multi engine failure. Flight purpose… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202335. 20.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA089%20-%206120.1%20-Pilot%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970066&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA089%20-%206120.1%20-%20CFI%20-%20Original_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970150&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA089%20-%20Pilots%20Written%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA089%20-%20ROC%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, CFI (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19971181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA089%20-%20ROC%20-%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - ATC - ADS-B data (item 6, ZIP, 12.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20178343&FileExtension=zip&FileName=RE_%20ADS-B%20Request%2026-117-Rel.zip - Photos (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20178623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA089%20-%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Correspondence with FAA (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20229941&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA089%20-%20FAA%20Findings%20Email_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.