Piper PA-46-350P accident near Akron, Colorado, June 25, 1994
On June 25, 1994 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N51CC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Akron, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED FROM A FAILED OIL SCRAPER RING. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1994 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N51CC · registry record · serial 46-22026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN IN VFR CONDITIONS, ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DECREASED AND THE PROP WENT INTO OVERSPEED. THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE AND CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT BUT LANDED IN A WHEAT FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1,320 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. INVESTIGATION PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF OIL SCRAPER RING FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN OIL EXHAUSTION. EVIDENCE OF OIL VENTING INTO THE EXHAUST WAS PRESENT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,450 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRI Grand Island NE at 6:00 pm
- Destination: ASE Aspen CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from AKO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.