# NTSB MKC88FA067: Piper PA-23-250, N62526, Excelsior Spgs, MO, March 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1988, 02:25 local (08:25 UTC)
- Place: Excelsior Spgs, MO
- Coordinates: 39.350536, -94.229858 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3505&lon=-94.2299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34488/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88FA067

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - 2 engines
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL AT NIGHT, AFTER USING FUEL FROM THE INBOARD TANKS, THE PLT SWITCHED TO THE OUTBOARD FUEL TANKS. SHORTLY, THEREAFTER, BOTH ENGS LOST POWER. THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & OBTAINED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ABOUT 1/2 TO 1 MI FROM THE ARPT. NO USABLE FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT & THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACDNT SCENE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62526](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62526-1989-08-16), registration cancelled 1989-08-16, S/N 277654030 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-7654030
- Airframe hours: 2810
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Viking Express
- Registered owner: Pb Leasing Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 14, 1987
- Departed: DPA, DUPAGE, IL
- Destination: MKC, KANSAS CITY, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 3EX, Excelsior Springs, runway 19, 2,005 × 48 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,455 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 217 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCI, 25 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 19880322006959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880322006959A), Mar 22, 1988: Piper PA23250, Excelsior, MO, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel on a night flight en route under IFR rules. Crashed into trees. Gross pilot misjudgement of fuel.

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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