Piper PA-23-250 N681M

Summary

On 1 August 1990 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N681M, operated by Robert M. Briggs, was involved in an accident near Burns, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 August 1990 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Burns, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

43.5907, -118.8892

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-250

Registration

N681M

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Robert M. Briggs

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hermiston → Jackson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA90LA153

1 person had minor injuries.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL LINE AND THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT IN AN NON-AIRWORTHY CONDITION BY THE PIC.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACFT, INACTIVE FOR 8 YEARS, WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE PILOTS FACILITIES FOR REBUILD. WHILE IN CRUISE FLT, THE RT ENG QUIT AND THE PROP WOULD NOT FEATHER. THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINT ALT IN THAT CONFIGURATION AND THE PILOT BEGAN A FORCED LANDING, DURING WHICH THE LEFT ENG QUIT. THE ACFT IMPACTED SOFT TERRAIN, COLLAPSING THE LDG GEAR, AND DAMAGING THE LOWER FUSELAGE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS IN 1982. THE FEERY PERMIT ISSUED FOR THE FLT EXPIRED 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE FLT. A FUEL TANK WAS CHANGED BEFORE THE FLT & THE PILOT APPLIED TAPE ON THE FILLER CAP. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ACFT FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THE RT OUTBOARD TANK LINE WAS BLOCKED. THE RT OUTBOARD TANK WAS SELECTED WHEN THE RT ENG QUIT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.