Piper PA-24-260 N9237P

Summary

On 3 October 2009 at about 15:45 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 registered N9237P, operated by Robert Desmarais, was involved in an accident near Highgate, Vermont, United States. 4 people were 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

3 October 2009 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Highgate, Vermont, United States

Nearest airport

Franklin County State Airport (KFSO)

Coordinates

44.9403, -73.0972

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-260

Registration

N9237P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert Desmarais

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Highgate → Highgate

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA002

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper fuel management which resulted in loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was conducting multiple 10- to 15-minute "Young Eagle" flights. After taking off on the fifth flight, and as the airplane reached 300 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and verified that the fuel pump was on, but to no avail. He then force-landed the airplane on the departure end of the runway. However, the airplane continued off the end of the runway and through a grassy overrun for about 100 yards, until it impacted a fence, substantially damaging both wings. The pilot noted that there were two main fuel tanks and two auxiliary fuel tanks on the airplane, and that during the first four flights, he only utilized fuel from the left main tank. Prior to the fifth flight, both auxiliary tanks and the right main tank were full, and the left main tank indicated 1/4 full. The pilot initially switched fuel feed to the right main tank, but then decided to utilize the remaining fuel in the left main tank, and switched back to that tank before takeoff. Postflight examination of the left fuel tank revealed no fuel in the tank. The pilot also stated that there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.