# NTSB LAX80FUA05: Piper PA-28, N8432C, Avalon, CA, December 10, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 10, 1979
- Place: Avalon, CA · AVALON, CA
- Location: 33.3440° N, 118.3214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Avalon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3440&lon=-118.3214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132087
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FUA05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUA05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3749  79/12/10 NR.AVALON,CA          PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 171
        TIME - 1150                    N8432C              PX-  0  3  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 9 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CATALINA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         AVALON,CA                    LONG BEACH,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY SECURED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RAN OFF END OF RUNWAY
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LEFT TOP ENG COWL OPENED ON TAKEOFF,PLT ABORTED,RAN OF END.LEFT COWL FASTNERS FOUND UNLATCHED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8432C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8432C), registered now, S/N 28-7625117, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Catalina

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19791210036229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791210036229A), Dec 10, 1979: Piper PA28235, Avalon, CA, Destroyed. Aborted takeoff when engine cowling raised up due to being unlatched on one side. Ran off end of runway.

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.

---
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.