Piper PA-24-250 accident near Caribou, Maine, September 2, 1993
On September 2, 1993 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7507P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caribou, Maine (Caribou Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1993 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Caribou, Maine · Caribou Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7507P · registry record · serial 24-2708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD COMPLETED HIS PRETAKEOFF CHECKS AND RUN-UP SUCCESSFULLY. HE STATED THAT HE DEPARTED AND WAS AT 870 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE, AND IT WAS REVEALED THAT BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AUXILLARY TANKS WERE FULL, WHILE THE RIGHT MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS TOPPED OFF A WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HE HAD FLOWN 2.12 HOURS SINCE REFUELING. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN TANKS CAPACITY IS 30 GALLONS EACH, AND THE FUEL CONSUMPTION IS 14.3 GPH. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT TANK FOR TAKEOFF. TEST DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,720 hours in all; 246 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,455 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,875 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1993; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LEW Lewiston ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,437 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from CAR, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
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.