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September 19, 1988 · Piper PA-24-260 · N8765P

Bend, OR

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 19, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Bend, OR
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-260
Tail Number
N8765P
Operator
Lane Johnson
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA88LA182

AT APRX 1239 PDT, WHILE ON AN IFR X-COUNTRY FLT AT 14,000', THE ACFT ENCTRD ICING CONDS. DRG THE NEXT 1.4 HRS, THE PLT CHANGED ALTITUDE IN INCREMENTS, CLIMBING TO 17,000', THEN DESCENDING TO 11,000' TO AVOID ICING. AT APRX 1411 PDT, HE INDCD THE ENG HAD LOST POWER & SUBSEQUENTLY SAID THE PROP WAS WINDMILLING. AT THAT POINT, THE ACFT WAS STILL SOME 20 TO 30 MI FROM THE DESTN. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO AN ARPT. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, THE LEFT WING HIT A TREE & THE ACFT CRASHED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND PSND TO FEED FROM THE RGT TANK, BUT THE RGT TANK HAD NO FUEL REMAINING. ONLY ABOUT 1 QUART OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RGT AUX TANK. THE LEFT TANKS HAD RUPTURED & WERE EMPTY, BUT NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLING WAS FOUND.

Full Narrative

AT APRX 1239 PDT, WHILE ON AN IFR X-COUNTRY FLT AT 14,000', THE ACFT ENCTRD ICING CONDS. DRG THE NEXT 1.4 HRS, THE PLT CHANGED ALTITUDE IN INCREMENTS, CLIMBING TO 17,000', THEN DESCENDING TO 11,000' TO AVOID ICING. AT APRX 1411 PDT, HE INDCD THE ENG HAD LOST POWER & SUBSEQUENTLY SAID THE PROP WAS WINDMILLING. AT THAT POINT, THE ACFT WAS STILL SOME 20 TO 30 MI FROM THE DESTN. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO AN ARPT. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, THE LEFT WING HIT A TREE & THE ACFT CRASHED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND PSND TO FEED FROM THE RGT TANK, BUT THE RGT TANK HAD NO FUEL REMAINING. ONLY ABOUT 1 QUART OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RGT AUX TANK. THE LEFT TANKS HAD RUPTURED & WERE EMPTY, BUT NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLING WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:15 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-260
Tail NumberN8765P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorLane Johnson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-E4A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingOvercast 3500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 39 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time20:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data