Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain, N969BD: Accident occurred May 28, 2013 in Page, Arizona

http://registry.faa.gov/N969BD

NTSB Identification: WPR13CA245
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, May 28, 2013 in Page, AZ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/23/2013
Aircraft: PIPER PA-31-350, registration: N969BD
Injuries: 5 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot stated that he and four passengers were about 4.5 hours into the flight and about 10 nm from their destination when the left low boost light illuminated. About 20 seconds later the left engine quit, and the pilot feathered the propeller. After about 1 minute the right low boost light illuminated, and 20 seconds later, the right engine quit. The pilot feathered the right propeller and proceeded to execute a forced landing in the desert 5 miles east of the intended destination. During the accident sequence the right engine separated from the airplane and the left wing buckled, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane had ran out of fuel, and that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper fuel planning.

The Coconino County Sheriff's Office has released more information about the plane crash outside of Page on Tuesday aftnernoon. 

On Tuesday, at approximately 4 P.M., Page Police Dispatch received a call of an airplane crash near the Navajo Generating Station, about 5 miles east of the Page Airport.

The passengers of the downed aircraft called via cellphone and reported that only minor injuries were sustained by the pilot. 

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, National Park Service, Navajo Police Department, and Page Fire Department responded to the area and located the aircraft and passengers.

The aircraft is a privately owned, twin engine plane out of Nevada. 

The plane had taken off from New Orleans, Louisiana to Nevada, with planned fuel stops in Texas and Page, Arizona. 

According to statements received by deputies, after departing Texas the aircraft’s fuel supply expired approximately 5 miles prior to reaching its re-fueling destination at the Page Airport. 

An investigation of the plane crash will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

This was the second crash of the day on Tuesday.  

Earlier in the day a plane taking off from the Flagstaff airport crashed near the community of Mountainaire, killing two aboard the plane.


There was a plane crash Tuesday afternoon east of Page. 

The location of the crash site was listed as approximately five miles east or southeast of town. 

Five passengers were reported to be on board the aircraft and all were listed as being okay and in good condition. 

The pilot was said to have suffered some cuts, but was otherwise uninjured.