Piper PA-23-150 accident near Ontario, Oregon, August 4, 2006
On August 4, 2006 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-150, registered N1221P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ontario, Oregon (Ontario Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate inflight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power. Factors were the en route high wind condition and the soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2006 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, Oregon · Ontario Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-150 · all PA-23-150s on the register
- Registration
- N1221P · no longer on the register · serial 23-241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot estimated there was 82 gallons of fuel on board when he departed on the second leg of the cross-country flight. Approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes later, after the gear was down and locked and while turning from downwind to base, the pilot noticed a vibration coming from the left side of the airplane; an unsuccessful attempt to lower the flaps confirmed that the left engine had failed. Being high and fast with no flaps the pilot elected to continue his approach and land, but over the approach end of the runway the right engine quit. The pilot then attempted to force the airplane onto the runway, which resulted in several bounces. The airplane made firm contact with the runway, then overran the end of the runway, going off the end of the runway, and then over an irrigation ditch before coming to rest upright in an onion field. A post-accident investigation of the airplane's four fuel tanks revealed that the right auxiliary, right main, and left main fuel tanks were empty, while the left auxiliary fuel tank had about 2 inches of fuel remaining. The investigation revealed no anomalies with the airplane, which would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he didn't know where the fuel went, only that he encountered some high winds en route to his destination.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,422 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,078 as pilot in command; 1,593 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,770.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 13.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY at 5:15 pm
- Destination: ONO Ontario OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 4,307 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from ONO
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.