Piper PA30 accident near Sedona, Arizona, May 1, 1990
On May 1, 1990 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Piper PA30, registered N7946Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1990 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA30 · all PA30s on the register
- Registration
- N7946Y · no longer on the register · serial 301042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT ENGINE FAILED WHILE THE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT ASSUMED THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING SOME POWER AND DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTART OR SECURE THE ENGINE OR FEATHER THE PROPELLER. HE DIVERTED THE FLIGHT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT FOR LANDING AND WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT TURNED TOWARDS THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE RUNWAY. THE IMPACT SHEARED THE LANDING GEAR. THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE POSITIONED TO THE AUX TANKS, WHICH WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,589 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 135 in the last 30 days; 1,402 as pilot in command; 948 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
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-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 4:40 pm
- Destination: 2E1 Dalhart TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 5,131 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N7946Y 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.