Piper PA-24-250 accident near Chehalis, Washington, March 28, 1991
On March 28, 1991 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6044P, was destroyed in an accident near Chehalis, Washington. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN IMPROPER OVERHAUL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1991 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chehalis, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6044P · registry record · serial 24-1140
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG LOST PWR. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BUILDING. THE POST CRASH ENG INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR WAS NOT SEATED PROPERLY DURING THE MAJOR OVERHAUL, WHICH RESULTED IN THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT DOWEL. FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED THAT DURING THE ENG OVERHAUL, A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH TO INSTALL A CRANKSHAFT GEAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THREE, THREE QUARTOR INCH RADIUS SCALLOPS. THESE SCALLOPS ALLOW FOR INSPECTION OF THE GEAR AND CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 667 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 537 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,651 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 14, 1990; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 59S Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from TDO, 14 miles away
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.