- Date
- May 2, 1992, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Independence, CA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N59781Piper PA-31-325
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920502013199A
- Case key
- 27611
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
Fuel starvation due to 1) the pilots inadequate preflight planning preparation, 2) the pilot's fuel system management, and 3) his operation of the aircraft with known deficiencies in the aircraft electrical system. Factors in the accident were: 1) the deteriorated condition of the airplane battery, and, 2) the pilots lack of recent experience.
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 Piper navajo had not flown for about 9 months. During preparation for flight the pilot discovered that the battery was dead. The battery was removed for charging by the fixed base operator, the battery box was cleaned and painted. The operator advised that the battery was over 3 years old plus the 9 months of non use rendered the battery non reliable and recommended that it be replaced. The pilot choose not to change the battery. The pilot requested that the main tanks be topped. The pilot flew the airplane for a short time. The next day (day of the accident) the pilot, while preflighting the airplane, discovered that the battery was again dead so he requested an external power cart for starting. About an hour into the cross country flight the pilot stated that both engines quit while on the aux tanks. He stated that he had no electrical power for fuel boost pumps or starters. The airplane collided with electrical power lines during the emergency landing attempt in an alfalfa field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N59781
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31-325
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7612023
- Airframe hours
- 1,750
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Cross Country Construction,Inc
- Registered owner
- Cross Country Construction,Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1991
- Departed
- HMT · Hemet, CA
- Destination
- 004 · Carson City, NV
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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total · 500 in this make and model · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Observed at
- BIH, 40 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.