Piper PA-23-250 accident near Burns, Oregon, August 1, 1990
On August 1, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N681M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burns, Oregon. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL LINE AND THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT IN AN NON-AIRWORTHY CONDITION BY THE PIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Burns, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N681M · no longer on the register · serial 27-20
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT, INACTIVE FOR 8 YEARS, WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE PILOTS FACILITIES FOR REBUILD. WHILE IN CRUISE FLT, THE RT ENG QUIT AND THE PROP WOULD NOT FEATHER. THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINT ALT IN THAT CONFIGURATION AND THE PILOT BEGAN A FORCED LANDING, DURING WHICH THE LEFT ENG QUIT. THE ACFT IMPACTED SOFT TERRAIN, COLLAPSING THE LDG GEAR, AND DAMAGING THE LOWER FUSELAGE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS IN 1982. THE FEERY PERMIT ISSUED FOR THE FLT EXPIRED 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE FLT. A FUEL TANK WAS CHANGED BEFORE THE FLT & THE PILOT APPLIED TAPE ON THE FILLER CAP. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ACFT FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THE RT OUTBOARD TANK LINE WAS BLOCKED. THE RT OUTBOARD TANK WAS SELECTED WHEN THE RT ENG QUIT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,616 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 28, 1990; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S22 Hermiston OR at 7:00 pm
- Destination: O70 Jackson CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from BNO, 9 miles away
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.
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.