DEMING, NM, USA
N3253P
PIPER PA-23-160
THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH FULL FUEL TANKS & USED FUEL FROM THE MAIN TANKS UNTIL THEY WERE APRX 1/2 FULL. HE THEN SWITCHED TO THE TIP TANKS & USED FUEL FROM THEM UNTIL THEY EMPTIED. JUDGING FROM A PREVIOUS FLT, HE KNEW THE L TIP TANK WOULD EMPTY APRX 8 MIN BEFORE THE R TIP. THE ACFT WAS AT APRX 5000FT AGL WHEN THE L TIP EMPTIED. AT THAT TIME, THE L ENG LOST FUEL PRESSURE & POWER. THE PLT SWITCHED THE L SELECTOR BACK TO THE L MAIN TANK, BUT POWER WAS NOT RESTORED. WHILE TRYING TO RESTART THE L ENG, THE ACFT EMTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT & RAPIDLY LOST ALT. THE L PROP CONTINUED WINDMILLING & THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD. THE PLT STATED HE KNEW THE R TIP WAS DUE TO RUN DRY & HE SWITCHED THE R SELECTOR TO THE R MAIN, BUT THE R ENG QUIT AT 100 TO 150 FT AGL. A PAX STATED THE R ENG STOPPED, 5 TO 10 MIN AFTER THE L ENG. THE PLT THEN TRIED TO LAND IN A FIELD, BUT THE ACFT HIT POWER LINES & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. REPORTEDLY, CONSIDERABLY MORE TIME IS REQUIRED TO START AN ENG, IF IT STOPS FROM FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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