Piper PA-28-140 N430FL

Summary

On 30 September 1993 at about 23:48 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N430FL, operated by Patrick A. Marshall, was involved in an accident near Lompoc, 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.

Date

30 September 1993 at 23:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Lompoc, California, United States

Nearest airport

Lompoc (LPC)

Coordinates

34.5991, -120.3897

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N430FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Patrick A. Marshall

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA373

2 people had minor injuries.

was fuel starvation. A factor in the accident was the mechanic's inadequate inspection of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, during initial climb on the maintenance test flight the airplane gained between 250 and 300 feet altitude when the engine backfired two times and quit. The pilot stated that he turned the airplane to avoid colliding with obstacles and crashed into a plowed wet field. Exam of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical failures. Fuel was found in both fuel tanks and the fuel pumps were found functional. No fuel was found in the carburetor. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot, who was also an A & P mechanic, had performed maintenance on the airplane. The last annual inspection had been completed over seven years earlier, and the airplane had not been flown since that time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.