Piper PA-31-350 N41169
14 February 1989 · Pacific Ocean · Minor injuries
Summary
On 14 February 1989 at about 12:00 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N41169, operated by Southern Cross Aviation, was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pacific Ocean
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350
- Registration
- N41169
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Southern Cross Aviation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Pago Pago → Norfolk Island
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX89LA119
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE DUE TO UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OVERWEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRPLANE NECESSITATED BY OVERWATER FUEL REQUIREMENTS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE RIGHT ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST OIL PRESSURE. THE PILOT COULD SEE THAT OIL WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA. THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. DUE TO HIGH GROSS WEIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ON THE REMAINING ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AND NOT RECOVERED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-31 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1989 | Piper PA-31-350 | Ontario, California, United States | Ameriflight | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 May 1989 | Piper PA-31 | Tok Junction, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Aug 1989 | Piper PA-31-350 | Lynchburg, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
| 1 Feb 1989 | Piper PA-31 | Sparks, Nevada, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 1989 | Piper PA-31-350 | Cairo Township, New York, United States | Aero-Venture Inc. | Fatal | 6 |
| 3 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-31 | Springfield, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |