Piper PA 24-250 accident near Linden, California, October 15, 1991
On October 15, 1991, a Piper PA 24-250, registered N6506P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND INACCURATELY CALCULATING THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL CONSUMPTION, AND NOT RE-FUELING THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FROM HIS LAST DEPARTURE POINT. THIS RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1991
- Place
- Linden, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 24-250 · all PA 24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6506P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1628
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATIONS WITH APPROACH CONTROL AND STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING 'FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEMS.' HE FURTHER ADVISED THAT HE HAD 'MINIMUM FUEL.' WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER, THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD. THE UN-EVEN TERRAIN ON THE DIRT ROAD CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN DURING LANDING ROLL, WHICH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON-SCENE. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL CELLS WERE EMPTY AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF BROKEN FUEL LINES, FUEL LEAKAGE, NOR RUPTURED FUEL CELLS. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FLOWN TO 4 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS DURING THE DAY. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT RE-FUEL DURING THE DAY AND THAT HE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THE FUEL BEFORE DEPARTING HIS LAST LOCATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,748 hours in all; 27 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1991; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q40 Elk Grove CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: FCH Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.