# Accident 19990909026329A: Piper PA23160, Hillsboro, OR, September 9, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 1999, 15:30 local time
- Place: Hillsboro, OR
- Airport: Starks Twin Oaks Airpark Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.4406° N, 122.9593° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4406&lon=-122.9593&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4065P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4065P-2002-04-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-160 (registry code 7102304, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23160
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990909026329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1999, ABOUT 1530 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-23-160 APACHE, N4065P, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY SCHOLLS OAKS LLC, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN OFF-AIRPORT FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT.  THE PRIVATE PILOT STUDENT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHILE THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS UNINJURED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM STARK'S TWIN OAKS AIRPARK, HILLSBORO, OREGON, APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN FUEL TANKS DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.  AFTER SUMPING THE TANKS SEVERAL TIMES, THE WATER WAS BELIEVED TO BE REMOVED AND THE PILOT'S DEPARTED FOR THE FLIGHT.  WHILE MANEUVERING, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR INTENTIONALLY FAILED AND SECURED THE RIGHT ENGINE.  A RESTART ATTEMPT OF THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE PILOTS ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT.  WHILE TURNING AN APPROXIMATE THREE MILE FINAL, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT ENGINE FAILED.  APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER MILE FROM THE RUNWAY, THE STUDENT INITIATED A LEFT TURN PERMITTING  A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE IN THE LEFT TURN, THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR FROM THE PORTLAND, OREGON, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE, INSPECTED THE WRECKAGE AND REPORTED THERE WAS WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN FUEL TANKS.  HE ALSO STATED THERE WAS WATER FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR BOWLS OF BOTH ENGINES.                        (-23)DURING FLIGHT PILOT SHUT DOWN THE RIGHT ENGINE. PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE RIGHT ENGINE WITH NO SUCCESS. DURING THIS ATTEMPT THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO 7S3 FOR LANDING. THE LANDING GEAR HAD TO BE MANUALLY EXTENDED AND ONCE DOWN THE A/C BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE TO THE POINT WHERE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING AT 7S3 COULD NOT BE MADE. PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A CORN FIELD, LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE A/C.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA99LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA157), Sep 9, 1999: Piper PA-23-160 (N4065P), Hillsboro, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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