Piper PA-34-200T accident near Saline Valley, California, July 6, 1985
On July 6, 1985 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N29461, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saline Valley, California (Chicken Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1985 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Saline Valley, California · Chicken Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N29461 · no longer on the register · serial 34-7970254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT THE PLT OBSERVED A SLIGHT LT ENG FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION. PREVIOUSLY, A SIMILAR FLUCTUATION TO THE RT ENG REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF A LEAKING FUEL LINE. FEARING FIRE BECAUSE OF A SUSPECTED FUEL LEAK TO THE LT ENG, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE FIRST OBSERVED 'SUITABLE' LOCATION. ON SHORT FINAL APCH TO AN UNCHARTED, DIRT, 1300-FT-LONG AIRSTRIP, GUSTY WINDS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE ACFT DROPPED, TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND BOTH MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMH Mammoth Lakes CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MMH Mammoth Lakes CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 109°F (43°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N29461 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.