Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DEN85LA129

TUCUMCARI, NM, USA

Aircraft #1

N3067L

PIPER PA-28-181

Analysis

THE ACFT CONTACTED A TREE AND A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF PWR DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE RIGHT FUEL GAGE REPORTEDLY INDICATED 6-8 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK WHEN 50 MILES FROM TUCUMCARI MUNICIPAL ARPT. THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS 'APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES OUT,' WHEN HE NOTICED A SUDDEN LOSS OF FUEL ON THE FUEL GAGE AND THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 'NIL' FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF PWR. THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A FIELD APRX 1 1/2 MILES SHORT OF THE RWY. TOTAL TIME OF THE FLT WAS 4 HRS 15 MINUTES. THE ACFT USABLE FUEL CAPACITY IS 48 GALLONS AND THE OPERATING MANUAL STATES THE ACFT USES APRX 10 GPH IN CRUISE FLT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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