Piper PA-31P accident near Tonopah, Nevada, January 25, 1992
On January 25, 1992 at about 3:30 am local time, a Piper PA-31P, registered N7325L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tonopah, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT DUE TO ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OF BOTH ENGINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1992 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Tonopah, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P · all PA-31Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7325L · no longer on the register · serial 31P-7400206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SOMEONE CALLED THE TOWER AT LAS VEGAS AND ADVISED THAT THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE TAXIING OUT FOR TAKEOFF HAD BEEN DRINKING. THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO RETURN TO THE RAMP, BUT HE REFUSED TO DO SO. THE CONTROLLER THEN ADVISED THE PILOT THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED, AND THE PILOT SAID HE HAD TO TAKE OFF AND DID SO AT 1845. THE CONTROLLER CONTACTED THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE TONOPAH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT THE PILOT'S PLANNED DESTINATION. AWAITING DEPUTIES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL THE PILOT WAS SITTING ON THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, AND THERE WERE 3 EMPTY BEER CANS IN THE SNOW BELOW THE PILOT'S WINDOW. WHEN THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE THE DEPUTIES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT SMELLED OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, HIS SPEECH WAS SLURRED, HIS EYES WERE BLOODSHOT, AND HIS BALANCE WAS UNSTABLE. THE PILOT REFUSED TO UNDERGO A SOBRIETY TEST OR ANY BLOOD TESTS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rock Springs Ranch, LTD
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 2:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7325L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.