Piper PA-28-235 N9483W

Summary

On 19 October 2002 at about 17:25 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N9483W was involved in an accident near Van Nuys, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 October 2002 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Van Nuys, California, United States

Nearest airport

Van Nuys Airport (VNY)

Coordinates

34.2097, -118.4900

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N9483W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Nuys → La Verne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA012

Nobody was injured.

fuel starvation due to the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system and failure to select a tank containing fuel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with obstacles and the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff, and during initial climb out, the airplane's engine failed. The pilot attempted to verify the proper operation of the fuel and engine systems, but was unable to determine the source of the problem, and, due to his low altitude, he was focused on finding a suitable emergency landing location. During the landing rollout, the airplane collided with obstacles and terrain. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident recalled the pilot stating that one of the two tip tanks was selected at the time of the accident. The inspector examined the airplane on scene and found only residual fuel in the outboard tanks, while fuel remained in the inboard tanks. The inspector opined that insufficient fuel remained in either of the two outboard tanks to supply power to the engine. The inspector drained 1 1/2 ounces of fluid consistent with the appearance and odor of aviation fuel through the carburetor drain plug. The post-accident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.