Piper PA-25-260 N8531L

Summary

On 17 June 1998 at about 01:00 local time, a Piper PA-25-260 registered N8531L was involved in an accident near Douglas, Wyoming, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 June 1998 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Douglas, Wyoming, United States

Coordinates

42.7500, -105.3903

Aircraft

Piper PA-25-260

Registration

N8531L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Spearfish → Richfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA270

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate judgement in attempting to takeoff from unsuitable rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on a ferry flight, approximately 20 miles from the airport where refueling was planned, the aircraft engine lost all power due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot landed in a field. He hitchhiked to the airport and purchased 15 gallons of fuel which was put in the aircraft. The pilot then attempted to takeoff from unsuitable terrain. The aircraft got about 4 feet in the air and dragged both wings on the terrain before the pilot re-landed and stopped the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.