# NTSB SEA00LA035: Piper PA-24-250, N5933P, Jordan Valley, OR, December 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 1999, 17:00 local (Dec 27, 1999, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Jordan Valley, OR - Coordinates: 42.960937, -117.36029 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9609&lon=-117.3603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48429/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA035 ## Probable cause Inadequate preflight planning/preparation. Unsuitable terrain was selected for landing and a road sign were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while en route to his destination, he noted that he forgot his approach charts. The destination airport was under instrument meteorological conditions. Therefore, the pilot attempted unsuccessfully to find a nearby airport that would allow him to land under visual conditions. While attempting to find a VFR airport, both left and right main fuel tanks ran out of fuel. The pilot estimated that he had approximately five gallons of fuel in each tip tank, and elected to initiate a precautionary landing on a highway. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with a road marker sign. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 1999, about 1700 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N5933P, registered to Rocky Mountain Air, and operated by the commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing 10 miles south of Jordan Valley, Oregon. The aircraft was being operated as a 14CFR91 personal/pleasure flight. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Marginal VFR conditions prevailed and a flight plan was on file. The flight originated from Pocatello, Idaho, approximately 4 hours prior to the accident. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he departed Pocatello Regional Airport, via a special visual flight rules (VFR) clearance, with an intended destination of Boise, Idaho. While en route, the pilot noted that all the airports along the route of flight were fogged in. The pilot reported that upon approaching Mountain Home, Idaho, which was also fogged in, he intended on flying an instrument approach into Boise (due to low ceilings and fog), but realized that he had forgotten his instrument approach charts. The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to find a nearby airport that would allow him to land under VFR conditions. While attempting to find a VFR airport, both left and right main fuel tanks ran out of fuel. The pilot estimated that he had approximately five gallons in each tip tank and elected to initiate a precautionary landing on Highway 95. During the landing roll-out, the aircraft collided with a road marker, subsequently damaging the leading edge of the aircraft's wing and wing spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5933P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5933P-2001-04-10), registration cancelled 2001-04-10, S/N 24-1021 (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: 24-1021 - Airframe hours: 4473 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 22, 1999, 2 hours before - Departed: PIH, POCATELLO, ID - Destination: BOI, BOISE, ID - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,010 total, 715 in this make and model, 101 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 1.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BOI, 55 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 19991226042569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991226042569A), Dec 26, 1999: Piper PA24250, Jordan Valley, OR, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that while en route to his destination, he noted that he forgot his approach charts. The destination airport was under instrument… 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.