# NTSB LAX91LA400: Piper PA-24-250, N6414P, French Gulch, CA, September 20, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1991, 14:51 local (21:51 UTC)
- Place: French Gulch, CA
- Coordinates: 40.729637, -122.60086 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7296&lon=-122.6009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27363
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA400
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27363/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA400

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - single engine aircraft
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT DEPARTED NUT TREE AIRPORT, VACAVILLE, CA, FOR A 1-HOUR FLIGHT TO TRINITY CENTER, CA WITH 10 GALLONS OF FUEL.  WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS 41 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE POWER CEASED AND THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SMALL BRUSHED COVERED FIELD.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A MANZANITA BUSH. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO FUEL REMAINING IN ANY OF THE FUEL TANKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6414P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6414P-1991-10-29), registration cancelled 1991-10-29, S/N 241524 (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: 24-1524
- Airframe hours: 3154
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Raab, Mark L.
- Registered owner: Raab, Mark L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1991, 44 hours before
- Departed: 045, VACAVILLE, CA
- Destination: 086, TRINITY CENTER, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 646 total, 68 in this make and model, 646 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19910920042249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910920042249A), Sep 20, 1991: Piper PA24250, French Gulch, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel. Landed off airport in open field,collided with manzanita bush.

## Other investigations on N6414P (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 OAK70D0037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70D0037), Jul 5, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N6414P), Fresno, CA, 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.

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