Piper PA-23-250 accident near Parrfield, Ohio, March 6, 1994
On March 6, 1994 at about 2:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N99BR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parrfield, Ohio (Parr airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's mismanagment of the fuel supply by the improper positioning of the fuel selector valves, which resulted in fuel starvation and the total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1994 · about 2:02 pm local time
- Place
- Parrfield, Ohio · Parr · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N99BR · registry record · serial 27-370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 8000 FEET, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF EACH OTHER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO GET EITHER ENGINE RESTARTED, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINES WOULD OCCASIONALLY RUN FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS AND THEN STOP. ATC VECTORED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD AN AIRPORT, WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH, AND AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING WAS DONE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE ENGINES LOST POWER, HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE INBOARD TO THE OUTBOARD FUEL TANKS. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ABOUT 3 TO 4 TABLESPOONS OF FUEL IN EACH CARBURETOR. THE OUTBOARD FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY; THE INBOARD FUEL TANKS CONTAINED FUEL. THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE OUTBOARD TANKS. THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS DAMAGED AND ITS POSITION WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 576 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1994; 15 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: LNS Lancaster PA at 11:45 am
- Destination: CGX Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 2,600 ft by 26 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ZZV, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.