Plane Crash List

Piper PA-28-161 N2520U

27 September 1991 · San Carlos, California, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 27 September 1991 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N2520U, operated by Donald Landen, was involved in an accident near San Carlos, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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 21:45
Classification
Accident
Location
San Carlos, California, United States
Coordinates
37.4910, -122.2606
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Registration
N2520U
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Donald Landen
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX91LA410

People

2 people had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 2 0

Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 INTAKE VALVE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING THE AIRCRAFT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL MAJOR ENGINE COMPONENTS. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL RUN-UP, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE AIRFIELD. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 100' AGL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THEN LOST TOTAL POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A WET, MUDDY AREA. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MUDDY AREA. AN EXAMINATION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE'S NUMBER 3 INTAKE VALVE FAILED. THE MODE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
25 Apr 1991 Piper PA-28-140
N95406
Hibbing, Minnesota, United States WM. & Audrey Svigel Minor injuries -
22 Oct 1991 Piper PA-28
N4616R
Berryville, Arkansas, United States Snider, Richard D. Minor injuries -
18 Nov 1991 Piper PA-28-161
N9811C
Greeley, Colorado, United States
no coordinates
P.c. Flyers No injuries -
14 Jul 1991 Piper PA-28-180
N7191W
Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States
no coordinates
Martin Sade No injuries -
27 Jan 1991 Piper PA-28-140
N610FL
Titusville, Florida, United States Achord, Marvin L. Minor injuries -
21 Dec 1991 Piper PA-28-140
N455FL
Yuma, Colorado, United States Aero Training of the Rockies No injuries -

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Jul 1991 Cessna C-172P
N54694
Hesperia, California, United States South Bay Aviation No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Cessna 172N
N5352D
Napa, California, United States Bridgeford Flying SVC. No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Beechcraft 76
N6045M
Sacramento, California, United States Altair Aviation Corp. No injuries -
27 Jul 1991 Ayres S2R
N3087D
Visalia, California, United States Gilbert Aviation Industries Serious injuries -
1 Aug 1991 Cessna 421C
N98455
Auburn, California, United States Edward Mueller No injuries -
2 Aug 1991 Champion 7GCBC
N1693G
Lake Elsinore, California, United States
no coordinates
Halbeisen, John F Fatal 2

All 170,864 records in United States