Piper PA-31-350 accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, February 14, 1989
On February 14, 1989 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N41169, was destroyed in an accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE DUE TO UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OVERWEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRPLANE NECESSITATED BY OVERWATER FUEL REQUIREMENTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1989 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N41169 · no longer on the register · serial 3 1-8452009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE RIGHT ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST OIL PRESSURE. THE PILOT COULD SEE THAT OIL WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA. THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. DUE TO HIGH GROSS WEIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ON THE REMAINING ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AND NOT RECOVERED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 8,700 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southern Cross Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Pago Pago PO at 6:10 am
- Destination: ASNF Norfolk Island PO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
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.