PIPER PA-28-140
Stafford, KS — November 16, 2008
Event Information
| Date | November 16, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN09CA064 |
| Event ID | 20081119X84546 |
| Location | Stafford, KS |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 37.95500, -98.65028 |
| Airport | Stafford Municpal Airport |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-28-140 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Full Narrative
The student pilot and his passenger had just departed in a single-engine airplane when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to switch the fuel selector to the fuller fuel tank, while making a left hand turn back towards the airport. He was unable to maintain altitude and landed hard in a cornfield resulting in substantial damage to the firewall and left wing spar. Examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were intact and filled with some fuel; however, the fuel was not drained to determine if there was any contamination or to verify how much fuel was in each tank. Engine continuity was established by manual rotation of the propeller, and no obvious mechanical deficiencies were noted.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.