ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 364054
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| Date: | Friday 24 January 1992 |
| Time: | 21:30 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31P |
| Owner/operator: | Rock Springs Ranch, Ltd |
| Registration: | N7325L |
| MSN: | 31P-7400206 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Engine model: | LYCOMING TSIO-540 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Tonopah, NV -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | North Las Vegas, NV |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
SOMEONE CALLED THE TOWER AT LAS VEGAS AND ADVISED THAT THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE TAXIING OUT FOR TAKEOFF HAD BEEN DRINKING. THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO RETURN TO THE RAMP, BUT HE REFUSED TO DO SO. THE CONTROLLER THEN ADVISED THE PILOT THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED, AND THE PILOT SAID HE HAD TO TAKE OFF AND DID SO AT 1845. THE CONTROLLER CONTACTED THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE TONOPAH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT THE PILOT'S PLANNED DESTINATION. AWAITING DEPUTIES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL THE PILOT WAS SITTING ON THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, AND THERE WERE 3 EMPTY BEER CANS IN THE SNOW BELOW THE PILOT'S WINDOW. WHEN THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE THE DEPUTIES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT SMELLED OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, HIS SPEECH WAS SLURRED, HIS EYES WERE BLOODSHOT, AND HIS BALANCE WAS UNSTABLE. THE PILOT REFUSED TO UNDERGO A SOBRIETY TEST OR ANY BLOOD TESTS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT DUE TO ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OF BOTH ENGINES.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX92LA101
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 28 August 2007 | N7325L | Private | 0 | Newton, Kansas | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Mar-2024 08:58 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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