Piper PA-24-250 accident near Everett, Washington, November 30, 1991
On November 30, 1991 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered CFKTQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Everett, Washington (Paine Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO IMPROPER PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. FACTORS INCLUDE LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, NON-FUNCTIONING FLIGHT COMPARTMENT LIGHTS, AND NON-SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 1991 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Everett, Washington · Paine Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- CFKTQ · no longer on the register · serial 24-295
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-24-250 COLLIDED WITH SLOPING TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOTS HAD BEEN USING A FLASHLIGHT IN LIEU OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING. ACCORDING TO NORMAL FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AT LEAST 1.5 HOURS OF FUEL SHOULD HAVE REMAINED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THIS AIRCRAFT WAS MODIFIED FROM STANDARD IN THAT WINGTIP FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN INSTALLED, WITH TWO FUEL SELECTORS RATHER THAN ONE. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS SELECTED ON, THE LEFT SELECTOR WAS OFF, THE FUEL SEDIMENT BOWL WAS BROKEN, AND THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON A SLOPE, ALLOWING REMAINING FUEL TO BE DRAINED.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,358 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 1,313 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,393 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 1991; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3S8 Grants Pass OR
- Destination: BLI Bellingham WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 9,010 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from PAE, 1 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.