Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Merrill, Oregon 97633
Friday, September 10, 1993 16:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PLEASURE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY NINE MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. DURING THE POST CRASH INSPECTION, THE FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL EXHAUSTION AND INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MERRILL
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97633
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1654 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID LMT
Elevation of weather observation facility 4092
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1886
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 13 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2006 5:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6114J
NTSB Number SEA93LA197
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7690344
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 7 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 108
Airframe Hours 1996
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER, TIMOTHY J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2655 ARAGON WAY
Aircraft Owner City SAN JOSE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95125
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TRADEWINDS AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1144 COLEMAN AVE
Operator City SAN JOSE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95110
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RBL
Departure City RED BLUFF
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2135
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LMT
Destination City KLAMATH FALLS
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --