Piper PA-46-310P accident near The Dalles, Oregon, September 2, 1992
On September 2, 1992 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N1005B, was substantially damaged in an accident near The Dalles, Oregon (The Dalles airport). It was a business 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
A MISJUDGED APPROACH. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1992 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- The Dalles, Oregon · The Dalles · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N1005B · registry record · serial 4608091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A BUSINESS CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF A LOW FUEL STATUS WHILE EN ROUTE, BUT THOUGHT THAT HE COULD MAKE IT TO HIS FINAL DESTINATION WITHOUT STOPPING FOR FUEL. THE FLT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND AT 96 MILES FROM THE ARPT. AT APRX 16 TO 18 MILES FROM THE ARPT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING THE DESCENT, THE PLT FELT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS HIGH ON THE APPROACH AND EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND LOWERED ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS. AT APRX ONE HALF MILE FROM THE RWY, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DESCEND BELOW THE INTENDED GLIDE. UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN APRX 200 FT SHORT OF THE RWY, COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN DURING THE LANDING ROLL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE APPARENTLY DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH FUEL ON BOARD AS HE THOUGHT HE DID BEFORE TAKEOFF, AND MISJUDGED THE APPROACH BY LOWERING THE LANDING GEAR TOO SOON.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 697 hours in all; 201 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1992; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,118 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 5,097 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.