Piper PA-24-250 accident near Selma, California, March 16, 1994
On March 16, 1994 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7541P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Selma, California (Selma airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN FUEL STARVATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST BY NOT USING THE ELECTRICAL FUEL BOOST PUMP. THE ENGINE FUEL STARVATION 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
- March 16, 1994 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Selma, California · Selma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7541P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2747
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. WHILE EXECUTING THE EMERGENCY CHECK LIST, THE PILOT DID NOT TURN ON THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP AS REQUIRED. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING THE POSTACCIDENT RUN-UP.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,853 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 4,687 as pilot in command; 1,117 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YUM Yuma AZ at 2:15 pm
- Destination: FAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,490 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.