Piper PA-28R-200 N1060X

Summary

On 22 April 1993 at about 23:35 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N1060X, operated by South Bay Aviation, was involved in an accident near Avalon, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 April 1993 at 23:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Avalon, California, United States

Coordinates

33.3803, -118.4501

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N1060X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

South Bay Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Torrance

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA182

3 people were seriously injured.

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS, AFTER DEPARTURE THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 2,000 FEET MSL OVER THE WATER AND CRUISED ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF THE ISLAND WITH THE INTENTION OF CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE ISLAND BEFORE RETURNING TO TORRANCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND THE PASSENGERS SAID THE ENGINE WAS MAKING DIESELING TYPE NOISE. ALL THREE PERSONS SAID THE PROPELLER CONTINUED TO TURN, BUT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER OUTPUT. THE PILOT SAID HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOOSING ALTITUDE AND HE THOUGHT THEY WOULD NOT CLEAR THE HILLS BETWEEN THEIR PRESENT POSITION AND THE FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED A RELATIVELY FLAT PLATEAU AND TURNED TOWARD IT WITH THE INTENTION OF LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD. WHILE DESCENDING TOWARD THE ROAD, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A SCRUB OAK TREE SHORT OF THE OPEN AREA. THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AFTER COMING TO REST. THE POST CRASH FIRE TOTALLY CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. ALL ENGINE ACCESSORIES INCLUDING THE IGNITION AND FUEL SYSTEMS WERE DESTROYED. NO UNUSUAL INTERNAL ENGINE OPERATING CONDITION WAS NOTED DURING A TEAR DOWN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.