Piper PA-24-250 N5613P

Summary

On 26 February 1995 at about 06:58 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N5613P, operated by Foucault, James F., was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 February 1995 at 06:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.4006, -104.2304

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N5613P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Foucault, James F.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Texarkana → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW95LA131

1 person had minor injuries.

FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. FACTORS WERE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER 4 HOURS OF DARK NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE GEAR UP IN A FIELD. EN ROUTE, THE PILOT NOTED THE FUEL GAUGES READING 'LOWER THAN NORMAL,' BUT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO THE DESTINATION AS HIS 'CALCULATIONS SHOWED WE COULD MAKE IT WITH FUEL TO SPARE.' THE AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THE PILOT ESTIMATED A TIME EN ROUTE OF 4.1 HOURS WITH A TOTAL OF 5.3 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD. FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING, THE PILOT EXAMINED 'THE GASCOLATOR AND, FINDING NO FUEL IN THE BOWL, CONCLUDED THE QUICK DRAIN HAD BEEN LEAKING SINCE HE CHECKED THE FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.