Piper PA-28-235 N9122W

Summary

On 30 May 2008 at about 16:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N9122W, operated by Gibbs Michael J, was involved in an accident near Amistad, New Mexico, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 2008 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Amistad, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Rosebud (NM29)

Coordinates

35.9375, -103.1161

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N9122W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gibbs Michael J

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Cruces → Dalhart

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08CA160

2 people had minor injuries.

Fuel starvation while in cruise flight. Contributing to the accident were incorrect maintenance, the fuel selector movement was impeded and a plowed field.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted an engine restart, but could not restore engine power. The pilot then elected to perform a forced landing to a plowed field. Upon touchdown, the gear contacted ruts in the ground resulting in a collapse of the landing gear. An examination of the airplane revealed that the housing encasing the fuel selector had been recently replaced with an incorrect housing which impeded movement of the fuel selector to all fuel tanks. The pilot reported that post-maintenance test flights did not detect the incorrect installation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.