Paine Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Everett, Washington 98201
Friday, November 29, 1991 18:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/29/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City EVERETT
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98201
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PAINE FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PAE
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 0
Airport Elevation 606
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1845 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID PAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 606
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 6012
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46305
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number CFKTQ
NTSB Number SEA92FA024
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-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-295
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Foreign 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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 21 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 2393
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRASER, DAVID C.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 19-32925 MACLURE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ABBOTSFORD, BC
Aircraft Owner State CD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode V254N3
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FRASER, DAVID C.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 19-32925 MACLURE ROAD
Operator City ABBOTSFORD, BC
Operator State CD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code V254N3
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3S8
Departure City GRANTS PASS
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BLI
Destination City BELLINGHAM
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 9010
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --