- Date
- May 15, 1990, 13:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4232PPiper PA23-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900515015809A
- Case key
- 26804
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control and to feather the propeller. A factor was erratic power from the left engine due to the jamming of the fuel selector valve in an intermediate position.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After switching fuel tanks from the aux to the main position, the left engine lost power. The pilot said the left selector lever was 'very stiff and hard to move.' He said that he tried to recycle the selector lever but that did not cure the problem. The power available from the good engine was insufficient to maintain level flight. When it became apparent that the aircraft would not reach the airport, the pilot selected a suitable landing area along a dirt road. The aircraft was in the landing flare when the pilot said the left engine suddenly produced a burst of power. The sudden power surge induced a severe yaw and roll which caused the aircraft wing to contact the ground. An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found the cable for the left selector valve was binding. The valve was found in an intermediate position between the main and aux position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4232P
- Reported as
- Piper PA23-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 23-1729
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert J. Kirsch, doing business as San Martin Flying Mission
- Registered owner
- San Martin Flying Mission
- Departed
- PHX · Phoenix, AZ
- Destination
- PHX · Phoenix, AZ
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 6,530 total · 43 in this make and model · 6,500 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 10 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4232P · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.