Event LAX91LA113

1991-02-26 FULLERTON, California, United States Airport · FUL None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

N3724P Piper PA-22-150 None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS WATER IN THE FUEL TANK.

Factual narrative

PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT FILLED THE AIRPLANE'S GAS TANKS WITH ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FROM UNFILTERED GASOLINE CANS. HE THEN FAILED TO DO AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. SHORTLY AFTER EXECUTING A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABEAM THE TOWER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT ONE HALF CUP OF WATER. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA113.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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