# Incident 20170403003829I: Piper PA-28-140, Whittier, CA, April 3, 2017

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 3, 2017, 21:56 local time
- Place: Whittier, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0181° N, 118.0381° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0181&lon=-118.0381&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55339, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55339-2020-07-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170403003829I

## Narrative

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

ON 04/03/2017, AT  2156 PDT A PIPER, N55339, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT THE MICHAEL KORS DISTRIBUTION CENTER LOCATED AT 3777 WORKMAN MILL RD WHITTIER, CA 90601. DUE TO FUEL DEPLETION. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A STOP SIGN DAMAGING THE LEFT WING. THE LEFT WING TANK WAS EMPTY, AND THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED FUEL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT POSITION. THE  LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT ARRESTED THE PILOT ON SUSPICION OF INTOXICATION.

## 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 WPR17LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA092), Apr 4, 2017: Piper PA 28-140 (N55339), Whittier, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's impaired decision-making due to alcohol intoxication and his improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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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