- Date
- November 29, 1991, 18:30 local (Nov 30, 1991, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Everett, WA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- CFKTQPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 41564
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
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Fuel starvation due to improper procedures by the pilot-in-command. Factors include lack of familiarity with the aircraft, non-functioning flight compartment lights, and non-suitable terrain.
Analysis
The Piper PA-24-250 collided with sloping terrain short of the runway while attempting a forced landing. The pilots had been using a flashlight in lieu of instrument panel lighting. According to normal fuel consumption calculations, at least 1.5 hours of fuel should have remained at the time of the accident. The fuel system of this aircraft was modified from standard in that wingtip fuel tanks had been installed, with two fuel selectors rather than one. The right main fuel tank was selected on, the left selector was off, the fuel sediment bowl was broken, and the wreckage was found on a slope, allowing remaining fuel to be drained.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CFKTQ
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-295
- Airframe hours
- 2,393
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A1A5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Fraser, David C.
- Registered owner
- Fraser, David C.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 21, 1991 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 3S8 · Grants Pass, OR
- Destination
- BLI · Bellingham, WA
- Airport
- PAE · Paine Field, runway 16, 9,010 × 150 ft
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,358 total · 18 in this make and model · 1,313 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PAE, 1 nm away