Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sheridan, Wyoming 82801
Sunday, September 3, 1995 15:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

One of the passengers reported that the engine suddenly lost power shortly after takeoff. Witnesses observed the airplane make a left turn before they lost sight of the airplane behind the rolling terrain. The airplane had collided on the uphill-side of a small hill in a left wing-low attitude. The surrounding terrain varied from flat open fields to rolling hills. Fuel system examination revealed that 3 of the 4 fuel tanks had ruptured. The fuel lines to the fuel selector were compromised; however, fuel was found in the fuel selector bowl. The selector was positioned and in the detent for the left auxiliary fuel tank. The fuel lines forward to the engine and carburetor were intact; however, no fuel was present forward of the fuel selector. The engine was examined and no evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. The airplane was approximately 381 pounds over its maximum gross weight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel starvation for undetermined reasons. The lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City SHERIDAN
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82801
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID SHR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1453
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6892
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1962
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 3 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1525
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N700TD
NTSB Number SEA95FA199
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-2818
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 27 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 135
Airframe Hours 3573
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAS PROPERTIES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10415 PARADISE COURT
Aircraft Owner City MANASSAS
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22110
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OTTO L. SAXILD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 10415 PARADISE COURT
Operator City MANASSAS
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22110
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1455
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code K06
Destination City BEARDSTOWN
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --