Piper PA-28-180 accident near Ramona, California, July 14, 1991
On July 14, 1991 at about 6:55 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7893N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ramona, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING PREPARATION AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, FORCED LANDING AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A RESIDENCE.
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 6:55 am local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7893N · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER REFUELING THE ACFT WITH A REDUCED FUEL LOAD THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT TOOKOFF FOR HIS DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVAL HE ADDED A REDUCED AMOUNT OF FUEL BASED ON HIS ORIGINAL CALCULATIONS. ON HIS RETURN NIGHT FLT THE FOLLOWING NIGHT HE RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING, FILED A VFR FLT PLAN AND DEPARTED FOR HIS HOME ARPT. WHEN APPROACHING THE DESTINATION ARPT HE DETERMINED THE WX WAS BELOW VMC AND ELECTED TO LAND AT AN ENROUTE ARPT. DURING THE DESCENT THE ACFT'S ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENTERED GND FOG PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH AN UNOCCUPIED HOUSE AND A PROPANE TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OR ON THE GROUND ADJACENT TO IT.
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: 500 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q68 Mariposa CA
- Destination: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 am from NFG, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.