Piper PA-24-250 accident near Delta, Colorado, December 8, 2021
On December 8, 2021 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1962 Piper PA-24-250, registered N543AS, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Delta, Colorado (Blake Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel starvation resulting in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2021 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Colorado · Blake Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250, built 1962 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N543AS · no longer on the register · serial 24-3250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a flight to demonstrate the airplane to a prospective buyer and during the climb after completing a touch and go about 200 feet agl, the engine lost power. The pilot changed the selected fuel tank and activated the fuel boost pump; however, engine power was not restored. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported he had visually checked the fuel level in each tank before the flight. The right main fuel tank was selected for the entire flight, and it was observed to be empty after the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the power loss was likely due to fuel mismanagement.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,179 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 14,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 10, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: High Country Tree Gallery Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: AJZ Delta CO at 9:30 pm
- Destination: AJZ Delta CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,598 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KAJZ, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAJZ 082155Z AUTO 07007KT 10SM BKN050 OVC065 04/02 A2994
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 18, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.