Piper PA-28-161 N9135T
20 May 1991 · San Jose, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 20 May 1991 at about 20:08 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N9135T, operated by Flying Country Club, was involved in an accident near San Jose, 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 20:08
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- San Jose, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Reid-Hillview (RHV)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161
- Registration
- N9135T
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Flying Country Club
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA221
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 200' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL OVER THE RUNWAY'S DEPARTURE END, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE SUFFERED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED NECESSARY EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. HE ENTERED A POWER-OFF FORCED LANDING DESCENT AND MADE A RIGHT TURN TO THE BEST AVAILABLE LANDING AREA. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, AND COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR, SEPARATING THE LEFT WING FROM THE FUSELAGE. AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON-SCENE. HE DRAINED APPROXIMATELY 1/4 PINT OF FUEL OUT OF THE INTACT RIGHT WING. THE LEFT HAD CONSIDERABLY MORE FUEL AND HAD LOST FUEL DURING IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN AT VARIOUS POWER SETTINGS WITH NO PROBLEM. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND HIS STUDENT PILOT IN ORAL AND WRITTEN STATEMENTS, DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK DURING THE FLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | WM. & Audrey Svigel | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-28 | Berryville, Arkansas, United States | Snider, Richard D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1991 | Piper PA-28-161 | Greeley, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-28-180 | Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States | Martin Sade | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Achord, Marvin L. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | 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 | 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 |