Piper PA-23-250 N4553P
13 August 1991 · Hawthorne, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 13 August 1991 at about 19:49 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N4553P, operated by GDW Construction Company, was involved in an accident near Hawthorne, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 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 19:49
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hawthorne, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Hawthorne Muni
- Coordinates
- 33.9104, -118.3395
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250
- Registration
- N4553P
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- GDW Construction Company
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Torrance → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91FA355
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRPLANE'S ABILITY AND HIS PERSONAL ABILITY BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), BY INTENTIONALLY SHUTTING OFF FUEL TO AN ENGINE DURING A CRITICAL PART OF FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT'S LACK OF SINGLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE CFI TURNED OFF THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT ENGINE FUEL SELECTOR TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB-OUT FROM THE AIRPORT. AFTER THE DUAL STUDENT PERFORMED THE ENGINE-OUT EMERG CHECKLIST, WHICH INCLUDED FEATHERING THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER, THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE DUAL STUDENT TO RE-ENTER THE RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN UNFEATHERING PROPELLER SYSTEM. THE DUAL STUDENT OVERSHOT THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE WHEN THE CFI NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DOWN LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS AND EXECUTED A SINGLE ENGINE GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO CLIMB AND THE CFI ELECTED TO LAND ON A STREET. THE AIRPLANE COLLLIDED WITH A SIGN AND A PICKUP TRUCK BEFORE COMING TO REST.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | New Market, Virginia, United States | John Root | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Templeton, Massachusetts, United States | Charles O'donnell | No injuries | - |
| 7 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Liberty, North Carolina, United States | Shamrock Gravure Products, Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Manteo, North Carolina, United States | Brookfield Aviation, Inc | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-23 | Bolivar, Tennessee, United States | Bolivar Aircraft Sales | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Lumberton, North Carolina, United States | Hester, Harry | Fatal | 1 |
All 1,716 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 |