Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA28R-200 N646RL

15 July 1991 · So. Lake Tahoe, California, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 15 July 1991 at about 19:45 local time, a Piper PA28R-200 registered N646RL, operated by Rhumb Line Ltd, was involved in an accident near So. Lake Tahoe, California, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 19:45
Classification
Accident
Location
So. Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Piper PA28R-200
Registration
N646RL
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Rhumb Line Ltd
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Reno → Carlsbad
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX91LA314

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
5 0 0 0 5

Probable cause

ENGINE FAILUE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT RESULTING FROM FAILURE INDUCED BY A NON-METALLIC INCLUSION IN THE SHAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA, IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH AN AIRPORT AND DITCHED IN THE LAKE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE FAILURE RESULTED FROM FATIGUE INDUCED BY A NON-METALLIC INCLUSION IN THE SHAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA28R accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Dec 1991 Piper PA28R-200
N2072T
Lakeville, Minnesota, United States Richard N. Jurgine Minor injuries -
7 Dec 1991 Piper PA28R-200
N55786
Piqua, Ohio, United States Larry & Shaaron Revalee No injuries -
22 Nov 1991 Piper PA28R-201
N91886
Gila Bend, Arizona, United States Air Transport Training Intl No injuries -
17 Mar 1990 Piper PA28R
N4340K
Chicago, Illinois, United States Rouchdi Rifai No injuries -
2 Mar 1990 Piper PA28R-200
N2947R
Prairie City, Oregon, United States - Fatal 2
29 May 1989 Piper PA28R-180
N4980J
Frankfort, Illinois, United States Pickett, Ronald E. Minor injuries -

All 106 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Jul 1991 Cessna C-172P
N54694
Hesperia, California, United States South Bay Aviation No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Cessna 172N
N5352D
Napa, California, United States Bridgeford Flying SVC. No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Beechcraft 76
N6045M
Sacramento, California, United States Altair Aviation Corp. No injuries -
27 Jul 1991 Ayres S2R
N3087D
Visalia, California, United States Gilbert Aviation Industries Serious injuries -
1 Aug 1991 Cessna 421C
N98455
Auburn, California, United States Edward Mueller No injuries -
2 Aug 1991 Champion 7GCBC
N1693G
Lake Elsinore, California, United States
no coordinates
Halbeisen, John F Fatal 2

All 170,864 records in United States