Piper PA-28-201T accident near Arcadia, California, January 16, 1991
On January 16, 1991 at about 5:27 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-201T, registered N9541C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcadia, California. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE RECENTLY OVERHAULED POWERPLANT BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHICH FAILED TO DETECT THAT THE ENGINE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE LINE WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM MANIFOLD VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1991 · about 5:27 pm local time
- Place
- Arcadia, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-201T · all PA-28-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N9541C · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7803265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE RECENTLY HAD ITS POWERPLANT OVERHAULED. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE OVERHAULED ENGINE. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE FORCE LANDED IN A PARKING LOT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE AND SLID INTO A DITCH. CFR PERSONNEL NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COWLING. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE FROM THE FUEL MANIFOLD VALVE TO THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE CAME LOOSE IN FLIGHT AT THE ENGINE FUEL MANIFOLD VALVE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,820 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 2,195 as pilot in command; 1,167 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,707 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 14, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360FBIB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 5:10 pm
- Destination: L67 Rialto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:33 pm from EMT, 5 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.