# NTSB LAX93LA133: Piper PA-24-250, N5607P, Red Mountain, CA, February 23, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 1993, 18:45 local (Feb 23, 1993, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Red Mountain, CA - Coordinates: 35.349987, -117.619079 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3500&lon=-117.6191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 27934 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27934/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA133 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO SEE THE TERRAIN DUE TO THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT FOLLOWING THE ENGINE FAILURE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED NAS CHINA LAKE AT 1520 HOURS AND FLEW TO SAN DIEGO, ARRIVING AT ABOUT 1650 HOURS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLEW THE ENTIRE TRIP ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT REFUELED DURING THE TIME IT WAS ON THE GROUND IN SAN DIEGO. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AT 1715 HOURS FOR THE RETURN TO NAS CHINA LAKE. AT ABOUT 1835 HOURS THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT SAID HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT, ENERGIZED THE BOOST PUMP AND WAS ABLE TO GET AN ENGINE RESTART. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE QUIT AGAIN AND THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESTART. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A CLOUD DECK AND COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN DURING THE NIGHT FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT OVER DESERT TERRAIN. AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE, THE PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH A TRACON FACILITY RECEIVING RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES. HE REPORTED TO THE CONTROLLER AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE THAT 'I GUESS I'M OUT OF FUEL.' IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5607P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5607P-1994-07-05), registration cancelled 1994-07-05, S/N 24675 (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: 24-675 - Airframe hours: 4739 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: US Navy China Lake Flying Club - Registered owner: Lee Phillips - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 22, 1992, 56 hours before - Departed: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA - Destination: NID, NAS CHINA LAKE, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 203 total, 6 in this make and model, 163 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: NID, 23 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 19930222003129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930222003129A), Feb 22, 1993: Piper PA24250, Red Mountain, CA, Substantial damage. Reported out of fuel VFR on top. Struck mountainside on forced landing. Failed to refuel for return flight. ## Other investigations on N5607P (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 LAX71DUJ80](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71DUJ80), Apr 9, 1971: Piper PA-24 (N5607P), Tucson, AZ, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.