Piper PA-23-250 accident near Showlow, Arizona, December 17, 1993
On December 17, 1993 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N8769B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Showlow, Arizona (Show Low Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poorly planned approach, improper emergency procedures, and his failure to feather the propeller. The inoperative fuel selector valve was a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 1993 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Showlow, Arizona · Show Low Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8769B · no longer on the register · serial 27-2501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE EN ROUTE PHASE OF FLIGHT, THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT SELECTED BOTH INBOARD FUEL TANKS, AND THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN TO COUGH AND SURGE. THE PILOT TRYED TO REPOSITION THE SELECTOR VALVE TO THE OUTBOARD TANKS, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS AND THE ENG CONTINUED TO SURGE. THE PILOT DID NOT SECURE THE RIGHT ENGINE OR FEATHER ITS PROPELLER, AND DIVERTED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PLAN THE APPROACH, AND THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED WAS TOO FAST AND ITS ALTITUDE WAS TOO HIGH TO NEGOTIATE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO-AROUND AND APPLIED FULL POWER TO BOTH ENGINES. THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR VALVE LINKAGE WAS BENT AND THE VALVE WAS POSITIONED SLIGHTLY OFF THE OFF POSITION.
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: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,330 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 1,685 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,918 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 8, 1993; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Orange County CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PVW Plainview TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:38 am from SOW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.