Piper PA24-180 accident near Marysville, Washington, October 14, 1991
On October 14, 1991 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA24-180, registered N7759P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marysville, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SLIPPAGE OF THE ACCESSARY DRIVE GEAR DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. FACTORS INCLUDE A FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1991 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marysville, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24-180 · all PA24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7759P · no longer on the register · serial 2975
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA 24 IMPACTED THE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING, AFTER A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE ON CLIMBOUT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACCESSARY DRIVE GEAR WAS LOOSE ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT, AND WAS THEREFORE NOT DRIVING THE ACCESSARY SECTION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD EXPERIENCED A PROPELLER STRIKE AT AN EARLIER DATE, AND THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE TEXTRON LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETIN WERE NOT FOLLOWED WHEN THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE BULLETIN CALLED FOR A NEW STYLE DRIVE GEAR AND GEAR RETAINING BOLT, BUT THE OLD STYLE PARTS WERE INSTALLED INSTEAD. ACCORDING TO LYCOMING, THE NEW PARTS MUST BE USED IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT THE GEAR SEATS ON THE CRANKSHAFT MOUNTING FACE, AND DOES NOT WORK LOOSE DURING ENGINE OPERATION.
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
- Flight time: 1,288 hours in all; 40 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,673 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1991; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O360A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jenkins Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: S88 Arlington WA at 10:25 pm
- Destination: OS9 Port Townsend WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.