# NTSB LAX91LA112: Piper PA46-310P, N9132X, Los Angeles, CA, February 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1991, 18:00 local (Feb 25, 1991, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 34.050758, -118.379905 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0508&lon=-118.3799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27121
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27121/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA112

## Probable cause

THE POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING PERFORMED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND IN ACCURATELY DETERMINING THE WEIGHT AND FUEL CONSUMPTION OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command
  - aircraft weight and balance - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - residence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A PIPER PA 46-310P LOST ENGINE POWER AND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED ABOUT ONE PINT OF FUEL IN EACH WING TANK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE OR ANY EVIDENCE AIRCRAFT FUEL LEAKS AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLIGHT FUEL LEAK ON THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HIS PLANNED FUEL CONSUMPTION SHOULD HAVE AVERAGED 17 GALLONS PER HOUR (GPH). THE AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE TRIP WAS 19.9 GPH. THE PIPER PA 46-310P, PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH) PREDICTS A FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 17.5 GPH FOR THE TRIP FLIGHT CONDITIONS. THE PILOT CALCULATED THE MAX GROSS WEIGHT (GWT) OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE START OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT TO BE 4,116.7 POUNDS, 1.3 POUNDS BELOW THE MAX RAMP WT OF 4,118 POUNDS. THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECALCULATED BASED ON ACTUAL PASSENGER WEIGHTS AND ACTUAL BAGGAGE WEIGHTS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DETERMINED TO BE 260 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GWT BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE POH DOES NOT LIST ANY PERFORMANCE DATA FOR AN AIRCRAFT BEING OPERATED OVER MAXIMUM GWT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9132X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9132X-1991-12-13), registration cancelled 1991-12-13, S/N 4608088 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA46-310P
- Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4608086
- Airframe hours: 787
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSI0-520BEI 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Malibu Air
- Registered owner: Malibu Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 28, 1990, 33 hours before
- Departed: SKE, TAOS, NM
- Destination: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: SMO, Santa Monica, runway 21, 4,987 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,779 total, 103 in this make and model, 3,612 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMO, 4 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910224003449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910224003449A), Feb 24, 1991: Piper PA46310P, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach struck residence landing on street. Fuel tanks empty. Fuel burn high. Was over gross weight

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.

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