Piper PA23-150 accident near Modesto, California, May 5, 1992
On May 5, 1992 at about 4:15 am local time, a Piper PA23-150, registered N2310B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Modesto, California (Modesto airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1992 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Modesto, California · Modesto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA23-150 · all PA23-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2310B · no longer on the register · serial 23-10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 50 TO 100 FEET AGL IN THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT CORRECTED FOR THE YAW CONDITION AND HAD JUST RESTABILIZED THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE SURGED INTO LIFE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT AND IT IMPACTED GEAR UP IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE IN A GRASSY AREA BETWEEN THE RUNWAYS. FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING ON AN AUTOMOTIVE FUEL SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. A QUANTITY OF WATER AND RUST COLORED SEDIMENT WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK SUMP. NO OTHER SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,995 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Q68 Groveland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 5,911 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- 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 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N2310B 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.