Piper PA28-140 accident near Renton, Washington, October 10, 1991
On October 10, 1991 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N55841, was substantially damaged in an accident near Renton, Washington. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1991 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Renton, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N55841 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND HIS STUDENT WERE ON INITIAL CLIMBOUT WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THEY TURNED BACK TOWARD THE FIELD IN ORDER TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, BUT A SUBSEQUENT TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAUSED A FORCED LANDING IN A LAKE ONE-HALF MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE, WHICH LATER OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A TEST RUN, DISPLAYED NO APPARENT PRE-IMPACT DEFECTS, ABNOMALITIES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 732 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 156 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 652 as pilot in command; 256 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.