Piper PA-24-250 accident near Osage Beach, Missouri, May 28, 2001
On May 28, 2001 at about 10:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7331P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Osage Beach, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot during the forced landing and inadequate preflight inspection performed by the pilot. Contributing factors to the accident were the fuel system contamination that resulted in the loss of engine power, the encountered stall, and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2001 · about 10:57 pm local time
- Place
- Osage Beach, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7331P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a forced landing the airplane stalled and impacted trees and terrain. Witnesses to the accident reported that the engine was running rough and intermittently prior to the accident. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver was recovered at the accident site and its track data was downloaded. The recovered GPS data showed the airplane's ground speed was between 73.7 - 79.8 mph during the last 10 seconds of data. The stall speed for the accident airplane with flaps retracted is 70 mph. Post-accident fuel samples taken from the fuel strainer and both electric fuel pumps were contaminated with water and particulate. Both electric fuel pumps contained rust, water, and particulate. The carburetor float bowl and accelerator pump-well were contaminated with fine particulate resembling silicon sand. The same fine particulate was observed in the carburetor idle tube passage and nozzle well. Fuel samples taken from the right main fuel cell and fuel selector were clear of debris and water. A fuel sample obtained from the departure airport was clear of debris and water. The accident airplane had been operated approximately 164 hours in the last 35 years, 47 hours in the last 15 years, 35 hours in the last 5 years, and 35 hours in the last year. According to Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), the pilot-in-command is required to complete an aircraft preflight inspection in order to determine if the aircraft is in an airworthy condition. According to FAA AC 20-43C, "Fuel having a 'cloudy' appearance or definitely 'offcolor' should be suspected of contamination or deterioration and should not be used." According to Airplane Flying Handbook, "Significant and/or consistent water or sediment contamination are grounds for further investigation by qualified maintenance personnel. Each fuel tank sump should be drained during preflight and after refueling."
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 185 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 105 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 27, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 886.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2000; 35.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AIZ Kaiser MO at 10:43 pm
- Destination: 06C Schaumburg IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from AIZ, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.