Piper PA-23-250 accident near Jean, Nevada, March 30, 1991
On March 30, 1991 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N99255, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jean, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT (POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR) BY THE PILOT, AND HIS IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1991 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N99255 · no longer on the register · serial 27543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES OF FLIGHT, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED IN THE LEFT ENGINE. WHILE THE PILOT WAS DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DID NOT SWITCH THE FUEL TANK SELECTORS TO THE OUTBOARD TANKS, AND EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE DESERT TERRAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE OUTBOARD FUEL TANKS CONTAINED FUEL; THE INBOARD FUEL TANKS WERE 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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 176 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (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-B1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L39 Ramona CA
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.