Piper PA-28-161 N84435

Summary

On 21 March 1989 at about 22:40 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N84435, operated by Aviation Facilities Inc., was involved in an accident near Fullerton, 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

21 March 1989 at 22:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fullerton, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fullerton (FUL)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N84435

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Aviation Facilities Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fullerton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA130

Nobody was injured.

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, THE SELECTION OF THE IMPROPER FUEL TANK BY THE STUDENT, AND POOR SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE DUAL STUDENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS. THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK FOR DEPARTURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.