Piper PA-23-160 accident near Burley, Idaho, July 21, 1992
On July 21, 1992 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N4317P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burley, Idaho (Burley Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION WHEN ANTICIPATED FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS NOT ADEQUATELY CALCULATED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1992 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · Burley Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4317P · no longer on the register · serial 231818
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA 23 160 SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT LANDED ABOUT A HALF MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AT BURLEY, IDAHO, AFTER A LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A GO AROUND AND WAS ON HIS SECOND APPROACH, AT THE CONCLUSION OF A FLIGHT FROM ST. GEORGE, UT. FAA INSPECTORS INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND ATTRIBUTED THE POWER LOSS TO BOTH ENGINES TO HAVE BEEN FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN ALOFT FOR LESS THAN 3.5 HOURS. NORMAL CRUISE FUEL CONSUMPTION IS 16 GPH. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FUELED TO A TOTAL OF 72 GALLONS BEFORE DEPARTURE. CALM WIND RANGE OF THE AIRCRAFT IS APPROXIMATELY 600 NAUTICAL MILES WITH VFR RESERVES. AIRWAY DISTANCE FOR THIS FLIGHT IS 388 KNOTS; OR 320 KNOTS DIRECT. THE CAUSE OF EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: 254 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1992; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGU St. George UT at 9:40 pm
- Destination: BYI Burley ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 2, 4,094 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.