# NTSB LAX91LA164: Piper PA 46, N9113X, North Hollywood, CA, April 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1991, 19:19 local (Apr 8, 1991, 02:19 UTC)
- Place: North Hollywood, CA
- Coordinates: 34.199653, -118.390747 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1997&lon=-118.3907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27164
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27164/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA164

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING, INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WOULD HAVE GUIDED HIM TO A PROBABLE SAFE LANDING AT AN AIRPORT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - pole (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A PIPER PA 46-310P LOSS ENGINE POWER AND COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT CONTACTED THE TRACON AND INFORMED THE FACILITY HE HAD A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT TWO MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 3,500 FEET MSL HEADING IN A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION. THE TRACON INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO TURN 150 DEGREES FOR RADAR VECTORS TO RUNWAY 33. THE PILOT DID NOT TURN TO THE 150 DEGREE HEADING, BUT CONTINUED ON A SOUTHWESTERLY COURSE. THE AIRPLANE FLEW PAST THE APPROACH ENDS OF TWO RUNWAYS. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED WESTBOUND AND CRASHED 2.5 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT INDICATED THE AIRPLANE HAD 300 POUNDS (ABOUT 50 GALLONS) OF FUEL ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF. THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE PIPER PA 34-310P IS ABOUT 16 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT ONE HOUR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM OR ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE FROM EITHER OF THE WINGS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9113X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9113X-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 4608044, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 46
- Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4608044
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO 520BEI 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pask Hover, Igor
- Registered owner: Pask Hover, Igor
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 1991
- Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Airport: BUR, Burbank, runway 33, 6,885 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 398 total, 45 in this make and model, 398 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUR, 2 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 19910407009199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910407009199A), Apr 7, 1991: Piper PA46310P, Burbank, CA, Destroyed. Engine quit on descent to airport. Failed to use vectors to airport. Foreign object valve outlet. No fuel on board.

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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