1991-07-25: Piper PA-24-400 — Stephan P. Schipper — Nashville, AR

Casualties unknown • Nashville, AR, US

Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A BLOCKED FINGER FUEL STRAINER IN THE FUEL SERVO UNIT. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

A PRIVATE PILOT ENROUTE TO OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, WAS MAKING AN INTERMEDIATE REFUELING STOP WHEN HE NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY LOW FUEL FLOW, FOLLOWED BY A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE PILOT INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO RESTORE NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION TO NO AVAIL. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO THE ONLY AREA THAT WAS CLEAR OF HIGH VEGETATION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD IN ROLLING TERRAIN. THE ENGINE STOPPAGE WAS CAUSED BY FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF A BLOCKED FINGER FUEL STRAINER IN THE FUEL SERVO UNIT BY AN UNSPECIFIED CONTAMINANT.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1991-07-25 Piper PA-24-400 accident near Nashville, AR?

A PRIVATE PILOT ENROUTE TO OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, WAS MAKING AN INTERMEDIATE REFUELING STOP WHEN HE NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY LOW FUEL FLOW, FOLLOWED BY A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE PILOT INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO RESTORE NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION TO NO AVAIL. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1991-07-25 involved a Piper PA-24-400, registration N8507P, operated by Stephan P. Schipper, at Nashville, AR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A BLOCKED FINGER FUEL STRAINER IN THE FUEL SERVO UNIT. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X17561. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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