Piper PA-28R-200 N2638R

Summary

On 6 January 1992 at about 21:38 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N2638R, operated by Cook, John D., was involved in an accident near Altadena, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 January 1992 at 21:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Altadena, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2001, -118.1302

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N2638R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cook, John D.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Barbara → El Monte

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA083

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY SELECTING AN EMPTY TANK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY WITHOUT HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF A PREVIOUS LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PIPER PA 28R-200, COLLIDED WITH WIRES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER SUSTAINING A LOSS OF ENG POWER. THE AIRPLANE LOST ENG POWER WHILE FLYING ABOUT 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND LEVEL. THE PLT THEN SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND THE AIRPLANE REGAINED ENG POWER. THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN AND THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WIRES DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, AND THEN STRUCK A TRUCK INJURING THE DRIVER. THE PLT INDICATED HE COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT CHECKS BEFORE TAKEOFF AND NOTED THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT TANK, BUT ADEQUATE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RUPTURED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD SWITCHED TANKS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL SPILL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. AN ENG EXAM AND OPERATION TEST WAS CONDUCTED. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES OR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED. ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE ENG QUIT DURING A FLIGHT AND WAS RESTARTED. THE PLT DID NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE INITIAL ENG FAILURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.