Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jean, Nevada 89019
Friday, March 29, 1991 17:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES OF FLIGHT, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED IN THE LEFT ENGINE. WHILE THE PILOT WAS DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DID NOT SWITCH THE FUEL TANK SELECTORS TO THE OUTBOARD TANKS, AND EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE DESERT TERRAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE OUTBOARD FUEL TANKS CONTAINED FUEL; THE INBOARD FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT (POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR) BY THE PILOT, AND HIS IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/29/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City JEAN
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89019
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 356
Weather Observation Facility ID LAS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2174
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
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) --
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 2
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1491
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45326
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N99255
NTSB Number LAX91LA148
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27543
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL T. HAGWOOD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 614 PHILTON DR.
Aircraft Owner City RAMONA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92065
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL T. HAGWOOD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 614 PHILTON DR.
Operator City RAMONA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92065
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 L39
Departure City RAMONA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LAS
Destination City LAS VEGAS
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --