Piper PA-23 accident near Bolivar, Tennessee, January 14, 1991
On January 14, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N1361P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bolivar, Tennessee (Bolivar-Hardeman County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INTERRUPTION OF FUEL TO THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO CONTAMINATION OF THE LEFT FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN ENGINE STOPPAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Tennessee · Bolivar-Hardeman County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N1361P · no longer on the register · serial 23-410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND DUAL STUDENT WERE ON INITIAL TAKEOFF AFTER THE STUDENT HAD SUCCESSFULLY HANDLED A SIMULATED RIGHT ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKEOFF ROLL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TREES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED PRESENCE OF SOME SILICONE-TYPE MATERIAL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THIS MATERIAL STOPPED UP A HAND PUMP USED TO EMPTY THE FUEL TANK AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE LEFT ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN WITH AN ALTERNATE FUEL SYSTEM, AND NO ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,206 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,109 as pilot in command; 899 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,263 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 20, 1990; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-C3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Bolivar Aircraft Sales
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MKL, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1361P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.