# Accident 20110120000429A: Piper PA-28-235, San Luis Obispo, CA, January 20, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 20, 2011, 13:15 local time
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Airport: San Luis Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2372° N, 120.5092° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2372&lon=-120.5092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8608W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8608W-2012-02-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA102) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110120000429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 01/20/2011 AT 1315 PST, PIPER CHEROKEE (N8608W) WAS INBOUND TO THE SAN LUIS OBISPO REGIONAL AIRPORT.  WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) REQUESTED THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT SLOW DOWN FOR SEQUENCE INTO THE AIRPORT.  THE PILOT REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO 1700 - 2000 RPM AND COMPLETED HIS PRE-LANDING CHECKLIST ITEMS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WENT TO INCREASE HIS POWER SETTING THAT HE "DISCOVERED THAT THERE WASN'T ANY POWER AVAILABLE".  HE ADVISED ATC OF AN ENGINE FAILURE AND THEY ASKED IF HE COULD MAKE THE AIRPORT.  SINCE HE WAS ALREADY BELOW GLIDE PATH AND TOO FAR OUT HE REPLIED THAT HE WOULD BE MAKING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING.AT ABOUT 1318 PST, N8608W MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A VINEYARD.  THE AIRCRAFT'S WINGS RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACT WITH METAL "ENGINEER" STAKES THAT WERE USED TO SUPPORT THE VINES IN THE VINEYARD.  THE ENGINEER STAKES SLICED THROUGH THE SKIN ON THE LEADING EDGE OF BOTH WINGS AND RUPTURED THREE OUT OF THE FOUR FUEL TANKS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR11LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA102), Jan 20, 2011: Piper PA-28-235 (N8608W), San Luis Obispo, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of one attachment bolt for the left idler gear shaft, which resulted from an insufficient preload on both attachment bolts.

## Other reports on N8608W (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20101111051019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101111051019I), Nov 11, 2010: Piper PA-28-235 (N8608W), Watsonville, CA, No damage. On November 11, 2010, the pilot of a Piper PA-28-235, N8608W, departed san luis obispo airport (sbp) enroute to lakeport (1O2). At around Watsonville airport…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.