Piper PA-24-180 accident near Dunsmuir, California, January 30, 1991
On January 30, 1991 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N7194P, was destroyed in an accident near Dunsmuir, California (Dunsmuir airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND ATTEMPT AND IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A DEGRADATION OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION FROM SAND AND RUST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1991 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Dunsmuir, California · Dunsmuir · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7194P · registry record · serial 2364
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT APPLIED POWER FOR A GO-AROUND ABOUT 300 YARDS PAST THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT SOUND AS IF IT WS PRODUCING FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE TOP AND CRASHED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED BY SAND AND RUST. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS IN THE 'ON' POSITION. THE AIRPLANE HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 14 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AMOUNT OF POWER AVAILABLE COULD NOT BE QUANTIFIED OR VERIFIED.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 368 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 309 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,659 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1990; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 085 Redding CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from RDD, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.