Piper PA-30B-160 accident near Merced, California, July 6, 1989
On July 6, 1989 at about 4:07 am local time, a Piper PA-30B-160, registered N8212Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merced, California (Merced Muni airport). It was a personal 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
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1989 · about 4:07 am local time
- Place
- Merced, California · Merced Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30B-160 · all PA-30B-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8212Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER FILLING THE ACFT FUEL TANKS, THE PILOT TOOKOFF FOR HIS RETURN FLIGHT TO HIS HOME ARPT. THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION APPROXIMATELY 50 NAUITICAL MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION. THE PILOT TURNED TOWARDS AN APRT IN HIS VICINITY. AS THE ACFT APPROACHED THE RWY OF INTENDED LANDING THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN ABOUT ONE HALF MILE SHORT OF THE RWY.
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
- Flight time: 724 hours in all; 154 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 670 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ECS Newcastle WY at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 307 Hollister CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,903 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:55 am from MER, 7 miles away
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.