Piper PA-24-260 accident near Salem, Oregon, January 27, 1995
On January 27, 1995 at about 2:16 am local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N9201P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Oregon (Mcnary Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE DUAL STUDENT BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHEN THE DUAL STUDENT IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1995 · about 2:16 am local time
- Place
- Salem, Oregon · Mcnary Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N9201P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4696
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO TAKEOFF ON A DARK NIGHT, THE DUAL STUDENT CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM ONE MAIN TANK TO ANOTHER. AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE STOPPED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS NOT IN THE DETENT, AND THAT HE HAD INADEQUATELY MONITORED THE STUDENT'S POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR.
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 single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,530 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLE at 2:16 am
- Destination: 77S Cresswell OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 5,145 ft by 140 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.