Piper PA-23-250 accident near Hesperia, California, July 14, 1991
On July 14, 1991 at about 2:05 am local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N515TW, was destroyed in an accident near Hesperia, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REFUELING AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL CONTAMINATION AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1991 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N515TW · registry record · serial 27-2302
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS SEEN DRAINING ABOUT ONE GALLON OF WATER FROM HIS FUEL TANK 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE DID NOT FLY FROM THAT TIME UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT AND A FRIEND WERE OBSERVED RE-FUELING THE AIRCRAFT WITH AUTOMOBILE GAS. THE ENGINES ARE NOT CERTIFIED BY THE FAA FOR THE USE OF AUTO GAS. HE DID NOT PERFORM A PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION NOR DRAIN THE FUEL BEFORE HIS TAKEOFF. AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 150 FEET AGL BOTH ENGINES FAILED. THE PILOT HAD ADEQUATE LANDING OPTIONS, BUT SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE UNTIL IT STALLED. ALTITUDE DID NOT PERMIT RECOVERY FROM THE STALL CONDITION.
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: 800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Kbmm Radio, INC.
The flight
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 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 |
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.