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July 26, 2002 · Piper PA-24-250 · N6887F

Peyton, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 26, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Peyton, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N6887F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN02LA082

The pilot said that the fuel tanks were topped off with a total of 60 gallons of fuel before the flight. He said that he flew for approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes and the "airplane ran out of fuel." He performed a forced landing to a road, but the road ended short of the required braking distance. The pilot said that he applied "heavy" left rudder to avoid hitting telephone poles, "J" boxes, and a fence. The right main landing gear folded under the fuselage, and subsequently, the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were bent up. Postaccident examination, by the pilot, of the fuel tank area revealed some fuel residue stains inside the fuel door. The airplane was equipped with "thermos bottle" type fuel caps and the pilot believed that fuel was being siphoned out of the tanks. In the performance section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), the fuel consumption at 19.5 inches of manifold pressure, 2,450 revolutions per minute, and 6,500 to 7,500 feet cruising altitude, was approximately 13 gallons per hour.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of leaking fuel caps. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Full Narrative

On July 26, 2002, at approximately 1550 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6887F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Peyton, Colorado. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which originated from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, approximately 3 hours, 10 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan; he said Meadow Lake Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was his intended destination. The pilot said that the fuel tanks were topped off with a total of 60 gallons of fuel before the flight. He said that he flew for approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes and the "airplane ran out of fuel." He performed a forced landing to a road, but the road ended short of the required braking distance. The pilot said that he applied "heavy" left rudder to avoid hitting telephone poles, "J" boxes, and a fence. The right main landing gear folded under the fuselage, and subsequently, the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were bent up. Postaccident examination, by the pilot, of the fuel tank area revealed some fuel residue stains inside the fuel door. The airplane was equipped with "thermos bottle" type fuel caps and the pilot believed that fuel was being siphoned out of their respective tanks. In the performance section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the fuel consumption at 19.5 inches of manifold pressure, 2,450 revolutions per minute, and 6,500 to 7,500 feet cruising altitude, was approximately 13 gallons per hour.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:50 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN6887F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1D5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 63 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point43 C
Altimeter30.09 inHg
Observation Time21:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data