Duchesne Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Duchesne, Utah 84021
Sunday, October 13, 1991 20:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD DRIFTED OFF COURSE UNTIL THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL AND THE AIRPORT WAS NOT IN SIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS IN THE AIR AN EXTRA 45 MINUTES WHEN THE PILOT SPOTTED AN AIRPORT. REALIZING THE FUEL WAS LOW, THE PILOT TURNED TOWARD THE AIRPORT. ENROUTE, ONE FUEL TANK WAS EXHAUSTED OF FUEL. THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE OTHER FUEL TANK AND WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE REMAINING FUEL TANK WAS EXHAUSTED OF FUEL AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED SHORT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INATTENTION AND BECOMING LOST. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City DUCHESNE
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84021
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DUCHESNE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID U69
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 5826
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 886
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45198
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8379V
NTSB Number SEA92LA012
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 PA28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8116215
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALPINE AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 691
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84603
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALPINE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 691
Operator City PROVO
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84603
Operator Code TIMA
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 U07
Departure City BULLFROG BASIN
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVU
Destination City PROVO
Destination State UT
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 34
Runway Length 5800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --