N55038

On September 2, 1998, at 2006 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N55038, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced landing in a landfill area near the Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The airplane, operated under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. Neither the private pilot/owner nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local personal night flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from the Deer Valley airport at 1930.

In the pilot's written statement he reported that after flying for 1 hour, they were approximately 4 1/2 miles from the airport when the airplane experienced an engine failure. He switched tanks and went through the emergency checklist in an attempt to restart the engine. The statement does not state which fuel tank had been selected for the flight.

The pilot reported that the airplane was approximately 1,000 feet above ground level (agl). He stated that he was unable to land on a road due to vehicles and high-tension wires, his other option was a landfill. The pilot stated that due to the dark conditions and inability to see terrain he landed hard.

In an interview with an officer from the Phoenix Police Department, the pilot stated that he had conducted a preflight inspection and that he "had plenty of fuel." He and his passenger had flown for approximately 45 minutes before returning to the airport. Upon returning to the airport the engine began to sputter. The pilot stated that he switched to the other tank and turned the fuel pump on. He reported that the engine stopped, he switched back to the original fuel tank, and the engine continued to sputter.

Aircraft recovery personnel noted that the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. They further reported that "there was a minimal amount of fuel in the right tank," and that no fuel was found in the left tank.

An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the airplane on-scene and noted that there was not a lot of fuel in the right tank and the left tank had no fuel in it. The selector position was on the right fuel tank. There was a puddle of fuel underneath the right fuel tank that he estimated to be approximately 3-5 gallons.