Piper PA-60-601P CGWPS
31 March 1989 · Newport Beach, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 31 March 1989 at about 16:35 local time, a Piper PA-60-601P registered CGWPS, operated by Anthony Deis, was involved in an accident near Newport Beach, California, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Newport Beach, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- John Wayne (SNA)
- Coordinates
- 33.6200, -117.8708
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-60-601P
- Registration
- CGWPS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Anthony Deis
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Pocatello
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX89FA140
People
5 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED BEFORE MANEUVERING (TURNING) BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE/INSTALLATION OF A FUEL INJECTOR REFERENCE AIR LINE, WHICH ALLOWED CONTAMINATION OF THE INJECTORS AND LOSS OF POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SVRL MECHANIC WITNESSES AT THE ARPT SAID THE RGT ENG BACKFIRED & TRAILED BLACK SMOKE DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. RPRTDLY, THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS ABOUT 80% LONGER THAN NORMAL. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT STAGGERED OFF THE GROUND, WAS SLOW & NEVER GOT ABOVE 100 FEET AGL. THE PLT RPRTD TO THE TOWER THAT THE FLT HAD TO COME BACK TO THE RWY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT ENTER A STEEP LEFT TURN, APPARENTLY STALL, THEN CRASH INTO SOME TENNIS COURTS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE RGT ENG HAD LOST POWER. A MODIFICATION KIT FOR THE FUEL INJECTOR REFERENCE AIR LINES WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED & ALLOWED AN UNFILTERED AIR SOURCE. SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF RESIDUE (FROM THE RGT ENG TURBO CHARGER COMPRESSOR) REVEALED THAT IT HAD THE SAME COMPOSITION AS THE ALTERNATE AIR DOOR SEAL. TRACES OF THE MATERIAL WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL INJECTOR REFERENCE AIR LINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-60 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 1989 | Piper PA-60-601P | Lakeview, Oregon, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 21 Dec 1989 | Piper PA-60-602P | Frenchtown, New Jersey, United States | Walter V. Wicker, JR | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-60-601P | Lithia Springs, Georgia, United States | Aero Star Transport Corp | Fatal | 3 |
| 23 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-60-700P | Griffith, Indiana, United States | CAS, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1988 | Piper PA-60 | Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States | Phillips, Lewis | Fatal | 3 |
| 14 Sep 1988 | Piper PA-60-602P | Hopkinsville, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1989 | Piper PA-31-350 | Ontario, California, United States | Ameriflight | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Sep 1989 | Piper PA-25-235 | Warner Springs, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 1989 | Cessna 310K | Ojai, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Sep 1989 | Cessna 182 | Eureka, California, United States | Nothern Air | No injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1989 | Cessna 152 | Lancaster, California, United States | West Coast Air Center | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Sep 1989 | Bellanca 17-30A | Palo Alto, California, United States | Klouda, Linda K. | Minor injuries | - |