Piper PA-24-250 accident near Bandon, Oregon, May 3, 1985
On May 3, 1985 at about 1:36 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5543, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bandon, Oregon (Bandon State airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1985 · about 1:36 am local time
- Place
- Bandon, Oregon · Bandon State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5543 · no longer on the register · serial 24-607
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FERRYING THE ACFT TO BANDON TO HAVE THE LANDING GEAR REPAIRED. THE FLT WAS MADE WITH THE GEAR SECURED IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE ACFT HAD LOCKING FUEL CAPS & THE PLT DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL LEVEL BEFORE TAKING OFF; INSTEAD, HE RELIED OF THE FUEL GAGES. DURING FLT, THE PLT USED FUEL FROM THE LEFT TANK THEN SWITCH TO THE RIGHT TANK WHICH INDICATED ABOUT 1/2 FULL. A SHORT TIME LATER, AS THE ACFT WAS APPROACHING THE DESTINATION ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING JUST SHORT OF THE RWY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,354 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 10,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S2 Florence OR at 10:35 pm
- Destination: S05
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N5543 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.