Piper PA-31-350 accident near Salina, Kansas, July 26, 1999
On July 26, 1999 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N97MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salina, Kansas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot. Factors to the accident were fuel exhaustion and the operation of the aircraft with known deficiencies in equipment by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1999 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Salina, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N97MA · registry record · serial 31-7552006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that aircraft electrical power was not available during the preflight inspection. The pilot reported that the engines were started utilizing a ground power unit, and that aircraft electrical power could not be restored after the ground power unit was separated from the aircraft. The pilot reported that after liftoff he could not move the gear selection lever to the 'UP' position and that the left engine began to, '...surge and loose power. Reduced power on the left engine, engine continued to surge. Switched fuel selector for left engine to [the] left outboard fuel tank. Left engine continued to surge.' The pilot elected to land, straight ahead, into a field of wheat stubble. Fuel quantity present, at the post-accident inspection, for the inboard fuel tanks, was less than the unusable fuel amount as listed in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). Fuel quantity present, at the post-accident inspection, for the outboard fuel tanks, was 1-2 gallons per tank more than the POH reported unusable fuel amount. The POH states that the outboard fuel tanks are to be utilized during level flight only. All four of the fuel tanks were intact, with no apparent leaks or ruptures, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. According the POH, the electrical driven fuel boost pumps, '...are operated continuously and are provided to maintain fuel under pressure to the other fuel pumps....' The POH further states that the electrical driven emergency fuel pumps are utilized, '...during takeoff and landing, and for priming the engines.' According to the Piper Service Manual for the PA-31-350, the gear selection lever, '...cannot be moved to [the] gear up [position] while left main gear strut is compressed or with power off.'
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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF ENGINE POWER during takeoff - initial climb
- FORCED LANDING during emergency descent/landing
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, ASE, IAIR, APLN, none
- Flight time: 1,282 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,307 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, July 13, 1999; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,368 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: SLN at 9:58 pm
- Destination: MPR Mcpherson KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°C, dew point 70°C
- Altimeter: 29 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SLN, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI99LA256.