NONE · PIPER PA-31-350 · 1989-05-20 · ARCATA, CA, USA
Event
NTSB number
LAX89LA199
Event ID
20001213X28355
Type
Accident
Date
1989-05-20
Location
ARCATA, CA, USA
Coordinates
40.850963, -124.050796
Injuries
Highest injury
NONE
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
1
Total aboard
1
Aircraft
Make
PIPER
Model
PA-31-350
Registration
N35479
FAR Part
091
Engines
2
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
NDRK
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
THE PILOTS INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION. THESE RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO BOTH ENGINES WHEN THE AUX TANKS RAN DRY AND THE MAINS HAD FUEL REMAINING IN THEM. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED WHEN THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.