PRESIDIO, TX, USA
N3PN
PIPER PA-31P
DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT THE PLT COULD NOT LOCATE A REFUELING STOP AND LANDED 100 MILES AWAY. NO REFUELING WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND HE DECIDED TO GO ON TO HIS DESTINATION WITH THE FUEL REMAINING. ENROUTE HIS RIGHT ENGINE COUGHED AND HEREALIZED HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. AFTER SWITCHING TO CROSSFEED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION WAS RESTORED. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A 4000 FT DIRT AGRICULTURAL AIRSTRIP WHICH HE SAW DIRECTLY BELOW HIM. HE FORCED THE ACFT DOWN AND LANDED DOWNWIND AT HIGH SPEED ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RWY. THE ACFT DID NOT STOP ON THE RWY AND OVERRAN INTO A DIRT BANK AND A FENCE. THE LANDING GEAR WAS KNOCKED OFF AND THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE FOR 700 MORE FT BEFORE IMPACTING AND TUMBLING. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED ABOUT 825 FT PAST THE DIRT BANK. A FIRE DEVELOPED IN THE LEFT WING AND CONSUMED MOST OF THE AREA IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT FUEL TANK OUTBOARD OF THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PLT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ACFT OR SYSTEMS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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