Piper PA 46 accident near North Hollywood, California, April 8, 1991
On April 8, 1991 at about 2:19 am local time, a Piper PA 46, registered N9113X, was destroyed in an accident near North Hollywood, California (Burbank airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING, INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WOULD HAVE GUIDED HIM TO A PROBABLE SAFE LANDING AT AN AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1991 · about 2:19 am local time
- Place
- North Hollywood, California · Burbank · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 46 · all PA 46s on the register
- Registration
- N9113X · no longer on the register · serial 4608044
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA 46-310P LOSS ENGINE POWER AND COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT CONTACTED THE TRACON AND INFORMED THE FACILITY HE HAD A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT TWO MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 3,500 FEET MSL HEADING IN A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION. THE TRACON INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO TURN 150 DEGREES FOR RADAR VECTORS TO RUNWAY 33. THE PILOT DID NOT TURN TO THE 150 DEGREE HEADING, BUT CONTINUED ON A SOUTHWESTERLY COURSE. THE AIRPLANE FLEW PAST THE APPROACH ENDS OF TWO RUNWAYS. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED WESTBOUND AND CRASHED 2.5 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT INDICATED THE AIRPLANE HAD 300 POUNDS (ABOUT 50 GALLONS) OF FUEL ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF. THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE PIPER PA 34-310P IS ABOUT 16 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT ONE HOUR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM OR ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE FROM EITHER OF THE WINGS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 398 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 398 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO 520BEI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 1:20 am
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,885 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:17 am from BUR, 2 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.