Piper PA-28-180 N7893N

Summary

On 14 July 1991 at about 06:55 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N7893N, operated by Coastal Fliers, was involved in an accident near Ramona, California, United States. 4 people were 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

14 July 1991 at 06:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Ramona, California, United States

Coordinates

33.0697, -116.8294

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N7893N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Coastal Fliers

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mariposa → El Cajon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX91LA311

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING PREPARATION AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, FORCED LANDING AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A RESIDENCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER REFUELING THE ACFT WITH A REDUCED FUEL LOAD THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT TOOKOFF FOR HIS DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVAL HE ADDED A REDUCED AMOUNT OF FUEL BASED ON HIS ORIGINAL CALCULATIONS. ON HIS RETURN NIGHT FLT THE FOLLOWING NIGHT HE RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING, FILED A VFR FLT PLAN AND DEPARTED FOR HIS HOME ARPT. WHEN APPROACHING THE DESTINATION ARPT HE DETERMINED THE WX WAS BELOW VMC AND ELECTED TO LAND AT AN ENROUTE ARPT. DURING THE DESCENT THE ACFT'S ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENTERED GND FOG PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH AN UNOCCUPIED HOUSE AND A PROPANE TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OR ON THE GROUND ADJACENT TO IT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.