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DEN88LA197

1988-09-02 · HAMILTON, Montana, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N9436P

Make / Model
PIPER PA-24-260
Engine
LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19700909
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AD1B85

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE PRIVATE PLT WAS DESCENDING TO THE DESTINATION ARPT AT THE CONCLUSION OF A 3.5 HR X-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK AND FLEW UNTIL THE 'FUEL WAS LOW TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION.' DURING A RIGHT TURN, WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ALL SUBSEQUENT EFFORTS TO RESTORE POWER FAILED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT, AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR, BUT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A FIELD SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT IMPACTED WHEELS UP, AND SKIDDED 60 YARDS PRIOR TO COMING TO REST. THE PLT FELT THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP FAILED TO PROVIDE FUEL FAST ENOUGH AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PRE-ACCIDENT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_DEN88LA197.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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