Piper PA-31P N7325L
25 January 1992 · Tonopah, Nevada, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 25 January 1992 at about 03:30 local time, a Piper PA-31P registered N7325L, operated by Rock Springs Ranch, Ltd, was involved in an accident near Tonopah, Nevada, United States. One person was 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 03:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tonopah, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.3602, -116.2606
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P
- Registration
- N7325L
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Rock Springs Ranch, Ltd
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- North Las Vegas → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA101
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT DUE TO ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OF BOTH ENGINES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SOMEONE CALLED THE TOWER AT LAS VEGAS AND ADVISED THAT THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE TAXIING OUT FOR TAKEOFF HAD BEEN DRINKING. THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO RETURN TO THE RAMP, BUT HE REFUSED TO DO SO. THE CONTROLLER THEN ADVISED THE PILOT THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED, AND THE PILOT SAID HE HAD TO TAKE OFF AND DID SO AT 1845. THE CONTROLLER CONTACTED THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE TONOPAH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT THE PILOT'S PLANNED DESTINATION. AWAITING DEPUTIES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL THE PILOT WAS SITTING ON THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, AND THERE WERE 3 EMPTY BEER CANS IN THE SNOW BELOW THE PILOT'S WINDOW. WHEN THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE THE DEPUTIES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT SMELLED OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, HIS SPEECH WAS SLURRED, HIS EYES WERE BLOODSHOT, AND HIS BALANCE WAS UNSTABLE. THE PILOT REFUSED TO UNDERGO A SOBRIETY TEST OR ANY BLOOD TESTS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-31P accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-31P | Mosinee, Wisconsin, United States | Becher Hoppe Engineers, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Dec 1992 | Piper PA-31P | Oceanside, California, United States | Timothy W. Eksted | Fatal | 2 |
| 7 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-31P | Atlantic Ocean | Hepburn, Inez | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1993 | Piper PA-31P | Coffeyville, Kansas, United States | Dutch, Dennis D. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-31P | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-31P-350 | Cedar Bluff, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar 1992 | Bell 206BIII | Glenbrook, Nevada, United States | Smith Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1992 | Cessna 172P | Reno, Nevada, United States | Reno Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-32-300 | Austin, Nevada, United States | Galen M. Reimer | No injuries | - |
| 1 Nov 1992 | Piper PA-22-150 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Nelson, Kevin | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Nov 1992 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Pahrump, Nevada, United States | Woods, Elwood | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Apr 1992 | Cessna 150 | Mesquite, Nevada, United States | Roberti, Michael | No injuries | - |