# NTSB LAX94LA074: Piper PA-23-250, N8769B, Showlow, AZ, December 17, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 1993, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Showlow, AZ - Coordinates: 34.230407, -110.069534 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2304&lon=-110.0695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28621/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA074 ## Probable cause the pilot's poorly planned approach, improper emergency procedures, and his failure to feather the propeller. The inoperative fuel selector valve was a factor in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - 1 engine - fuel system,selector/valve - switched off - fuel system,selector/valve - inoperative (contributing factor) - Forced landing, go-around (vfr) - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause) - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis DURING THE EN ROUTE PHASE OF FLIGHT, THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT SELECTED BOTH INBOARD FUEL TANKS, AND THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN TO COUGH AND SURGE. THE PILOT TRYED TO REPOSITION THE SELECTOR VALVE TO THE OUTBOARD TANKS, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS AND THE ENG CONTINUED TO SURGE. THE PILOT DID NOT SECURE THE RIGHT ENGINE OR FEATHER ITS PROPELLER, AND DIVERTED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PLAN THE APPROACH, AND THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED WAS TOO FAST AND ITS ALTITUDE WAS TOO HIGH TO NEGOTIATE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO-AROUND AND APPLIED FULL POWER TO BOTH ENGINES. THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR VALVE LINKAGE WAS BENT AND THE VALVE WAS POSITIONED SLIGHTLY OFF THE OFF POSITION. ## Factual narrative On December 17, 1993, at 1400 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-23-250, N8769B, collided with a tree while performing an emergency landing in a meadow near Show Low, Arizona. The pilot was conducting an instrument flight rules personal flight to Plainview, Texas. The airplane, registered to and operated by John C. Morrison, Newport Beach, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured; his three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Santa Ana Airport, Orange County, California, at 1000 hours. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that while enroute he selected the inboard fuel tanks. Immediately thereafter, the right engine began to cough and surge. The pilot immediately repositioned the fuel selector valves to the outboard fuel tanks, but without success. The right engine continued to surge intermittently. The pilot elected to divert to Show Low Airport and executed an approach to runway 24. The final approach was too high and too fast to negotiate the runway and the pilot elected to execute a go-around. The pilot retracted the landing gear and applied full power to both engines. The right engine immediately began to lose power and the airplane was unable to gain sufficient altitude to return to the airport after crossing over the departure end of the runway. The pilot elected to land on a dirt road as the surrounding terrain contained numerous rocks and was rough and uneven. The pilot extended the landing gears and successfully landed on the road. During the landing roll, the airplane swerved to the right and the airplane's right wing struck a tree. A postaccident inspection of the aircraft by an aircraft mechanic with airframe and powerplant ratings revealed that the fuel valve on the right engine was "barely out of the off position." He examined the fuel valve and found the selector selected to the "outboard" position. After removing the floorboard, he found the linkage between the fuel switching point and the fuel valve was bent. The mechanic stated "the bend in the cable [linkage] restricted the full length of travel to fully open the fuel valve to the outboard position." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8769B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8769B-2014-10-28), registration cancelled 2014-10-28, S/N 27-2501, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-2501 - Airframe hours: 5918 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John C. Morrison - Registered owner: John C. Morrison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 8, 1993, 42 hours before - Departed: SNA, ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Destination: PVW, PLAINVIEW, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SOW, Show Low Municipal, runway 24, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,330 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,685 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SOW, 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 19931217046999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931217046999A), Dec 17, 1993: Piper PA23250, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. Right engine surging. Diverted, overshot approach. Began go around. Engine quit. Fuel selector defective. 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.