- Date
- January 30, 1991, 12:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place
- Dunsmuir, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7194PPiper PA-24-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910130001299A
- Case key
- 26974
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 pilot's delayed go-around attempt and improper use of carburetor heat. Contributing to the accident was a degradation of engine power due to fuel contamination from sand and rust.
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
The private pilot applied power for a go-around about 300 yards past the approach end of the runway. Witnesses indicated that the engine did not sound as if it ws producing full power. The airplane struck a tree top and crashed. The investigation revealed that the fuel system was contaminated by sand and rust. The carburetor heat control was in the 'on' position. The airplane had an annual inspection 14 hours prior to the accident. The amount of power available could not be quantified or verified.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7194P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2364
- Airframe hours
- 1,659
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard F. Renton
- Registered owner
- Richard F. Renton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 14, 1990 · 14 hours before
- Departed
- 085 · Redding, CA
- Airport
- 106 · Dunsmuir, runway 32, 2,700 × 60 ft, dirt
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 368 total · 8 in this make and model · 309 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDD, 45 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.