# Accident 20151007022489A: Piper PA-28-180, Compton, CA, October 7, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 7, 2015, 15:40 local time
- Place: Compton, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8900° N, 118.2439° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8900&lon=-118.2439&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7506W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7506W-2018-02-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 28 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151007022489A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN TAXIED TO RUNUP, AND HE SAID HE RAN THE ENGINE UP THREE TIMES, BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.  HE WAS IN THE HOLD AREA AND WHEN TRAFFIC WAS CLEAR, HE TOOK THE RUNWAY, CHECKED FOR TRAFFIC ONE MORE TIME, AND TOOK OFF.

AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL THE ENGINE ?SHUTTERED? AND LOST POWER.  AIRMAN STATED THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A CHUGGING NOISE AS HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE.  HE SWITCHED THE FUEL TANK FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK, BUT NOTHING IMPROVED, SO HE RESELECTED THE RIGHT TANK WHICH HAD SLIGHTLY MORE FUEL.

AIRMAN SAID, HE REMEMBERED WHAT HIS INSTRUCTOR TOLD HIM:  ?AVIATE, NAVIGATE, AND COMMUNICATE?.  HE THEN ESTABLISHED BEST GLIDE SPEED, BETWEEN 60-70 KNOTS.  HE THEN CONCENTRATED ON LANDING.

AIRMAN ESTABLISHED A GLIDE SPEED AND BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A LANDING SPOT.  A MAJOR STREET PARALLING THE RUNWAY WAS TOO BUSY, SO HE PICKED A NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE NORTH TO LAND.  HE TRIED NOT TO FLARE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO PUT IN DOWN IN A PARTICULAR SPOT.  AIRMAN SURVIVED CRASH WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO HIS FACE.

## 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 WPR16LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA005), Oct 7, 2015: Piper PA28 (N7506W), Compton, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal…

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.

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