Piper PA 32-300 N1885H
21 January 1991 · Anaheim, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 21 January 1991 at about 16:58 local time, a Piper PA 32-300 registered N1885H, operated by Ameriflight, was involved in an accident near Anaheim, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:58
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Anaheim, California, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 32-300
- Registration
- N1885H
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Ameriflight
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ontario → Carlsbad
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dawn
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA085
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL IN THAT THEY IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED THE LEFT MAGNETO WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE EROSION OF THE ELECTRODES FROM SIX OF THE TWELVE INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS. THE INSTALLATION OF SPARK PLUGS WITH COLDER HEAT RANGES THAN SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND RISING TERRAIN AHEAD OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE FORCED LANDING WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER INSTALLING SPARK PLUGS WITH HEAT RANGES COLDER THAN SPECIFIED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER AND ADJUSTING THE LEFT MAGNETO 10 DEGREES BEFORE ITS SPECIFIED ADJUSTMENT THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED FOR FLIGHT. THE PILOT TOOK OFF FOR HIS NON SCHEDULED PART 135 FLIGHT. ENROUTE THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A DRY LAKE BED. THE LANDING SURFACE WAS TOO SHORT AND THE LEFT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM A STEEP BANK.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Joseph Pastuszek | No injuries | - |
| 24 May 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | WEB Associate Electronic | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1991 | Piper PA-32-301 | Montauk, New York, United States | Three Wing Flying Service, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 May 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | Clearwater, Florida, United States | Tropicair Pilot's Club | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-32-301 | Eek, Alaska, United States | Kusko Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1991 | Piper PA-32-260 | Culebra | Alas del Caribe Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
All 1,695 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172P | Hesperia, California, United States | South Bay Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |