Piper PA 24-250 N6506P
15 October 1991 · Linden, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 15 October 1991 at about 00:15 local time, a Piper PA 24-250 registered N6506P, operated by Patrick O'grady, was involved in an accident near Linden, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 00:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Linden, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.0504, -121.0298
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 24-250
- Registration
- N6506P
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Patrick O'grady
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Elk Grove → Fresno
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA015
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND INACCURATELY CALCULATING THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL CONSUMPTION, AND NOT RE-FUELING THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FROM HIS LAST DEPARTURE POINT. THIS RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING THE AIRPLANE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATIONS WITH APPROACH CONTROL AND STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING 'FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEMS.' HE FURTHER ADVISED THAT HE HAD 'MINIMUM FUEL.' WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER, THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD. THE UN-EVEN TERRAIN ON THE DIRT ROAD CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN DURING LANDING ROLL, WHICH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON-SCENE. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL CELLS WERE EMPTY AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF BROKEN FUEL LINES, FUEL LEAKAGE, NOR RUPTURED FUEL CELLS. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FLOWN TO 4 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS DURING THE DAY. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT RE-FUEL DURING THE DAY AND THAT HE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THE FUEL BEFORE DEPARTING HIS LAST LOCATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-24 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-24-250 | Ellicott, Colorado, United States | Southwest Aircraft Recovery | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Cordele, Georgia, United States | Carter, Richard C. | Fatal | 3 |
| 30 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-24-250 | Franklin, Tennessee, United States | Hannasch, Thomas P. | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Nov 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Charles City, Iowa, United States | Culbert Aeronautics | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-24-180 | Sandston, Virginia, United States | Michael Kroll | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Tehachapi, California, United States | James W. Hager | No injuries | - |
All 2,700 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172P | Hesperia, California, United States | South Bay Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |