# NTSB CHI92FA053: Piper PA-24-250, N6919P, Berrien Springs, MI, December 11, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1991, 18:27 local (23:27 UTC)
- Place: Berrien Springs, MI
- Coordinates: 41.939136, -86.340667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9391&lon=-86.3407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15277/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92FA053

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S (CFI'S) POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION-MAKING AND MISJUDGED FUEL SUPPLY/CONSUMPTION.  A RELATED FACTOR IS OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
  - fuel supply - misread, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night
  - visual lookout - restricted
  - terrain condition - high vegetation
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGERS REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW ON FUEL AS THEY NEARED THEIR DESTINATION.  THEY DISCUSSED AN INTERMEDIATE FUEL STOP, BUT DECIDED THEY HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION.  THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SWITCHED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK TO THE LEFT TANK AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED.  SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN.  RESTART ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE PILOT TURNED TOWARDS THE NEAREST AIRPORT.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES SHORT OF THE LANDING RUNWAY.  POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM.  THE PASSENGERS REPORTED IT WAS A DARK NIGHT, AND THE AIRPLANE HIT THE TREES AFTER TURNING TO AVOID AN AREA WITH RESIDENTIAL LIGHTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6919P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6919P-1992-12-15), registration cancelled 1992-12-15, S/N 242053 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-2053
- Airframe hours: 2605
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Hovious,M.;Vanlinder;Crawford
- Registered owner: Hovious,M.;Vanlinder;Crawford
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 1991, 56 hours before
- Departed: 2MI, BATES CITY, MO
- Destination: AZO, KALAMAZOO, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 14,000 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19911211055699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911211055699A), Dec 11, 1991: Piper PA24250, Berriem Springs, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft ran out of fuel fourteen miles from destination on dark night. Crashed into trees.

## Other investigations on N6919P (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 DEN68F0148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68F0148), Nov 9, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N6919P), Denver, CO, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.