Piper PA23-160 accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, May 15, 1990
On May 15, 1990 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA23-160, registered N4232P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER. A FACTOR WAS ERRATIC POWER FROM THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO THE JAMMING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1990 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA23-160 · all PA23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4232P · no longer on the register · serial 23-1729
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS FROM THE AUX TO THE MAIN POSITION, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SAID THE LEFT SELECTOR LEVER WAS 'VERY STIFF AND HARD TO MOVE.' HE SAID THAT HE TRIED TO RECYCLE THE SELECTOR LEVER BUT THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. THE POWER AVAILABLE FROM THE GOOD ENGINE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT REACH THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT SELECTED A SUITABLE LANDING AREA ALONG A DIRT ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE LANDING FLARE WHEN THE PILOT SAID THE LEFT ENGINE SUDDENLY PRODUCED A BURST OF POWER. THE SUDDEN POWER SURGE INDUCED A SEVERE YAW AND ROLL WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT WING TO CONTACT THE GROUND. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE CABLE FOR THE LEFT SELECTOR VALVE WAS BINDING. THE VALVE WAS FOUND IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE MAIN AND AUX POSITION.
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: 6,530 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.