LAX83FA104

NTSB accident investigation · Piper 601P · San Diego, CA · February 18, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
February 17, 1983, 19:13 local (Feb 18, 1983, 03:13 UTC)
Place
San Diego, CA
Injuries
5 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N90353Piper 601P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
23428

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malfTakeoff - roll/run
Maintenance - improperOther maintenance personnelCause
Propeller system/accessories,governor - improperCause
Ignition system,magneto - crackedCause
Ignition system,magneto - erraticCause
Ignition system,spark plug - wornCause
Forced landingLanding
Aircraft weight and balance - exceededPilot in commandFactor
Operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continuedPilot in commandCause
Aborted takeoff - not performedPilot in commandCause
Lowering of flaps - improperPilot in commandFactor
Lift-off - prematurePilot in commandFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding
Light condition - nightFactor
Object - vehicleFactor
Object - utility poleFactor

Analysis

While taking off, the acft climbed aprx 100 to 200 ft, then began loosing alt. During a forced landing on a street, it hit a parked car & a light pole & burst in flames. The plt, who later expired, said that neither eng developed full power (2575 RPM). He said this was not unusual when power was 1st applied, but said full RPM was generally obtained shortly after the roll was begun. After being committed for takeoff, both rpm's were reportedly between 2300 & 2400 RPM.svrl witnesses stated the engs sounded like they were running rough. A witness reported the acft swerved 'as tho the plthad difficulty with the l eng.' Reportedly, the plt 'dropped some more flaps' below the 20 deg takeoff setting 'in orderto pull it off' & raised the gear immediately after lift-off. Eng teardowns revealed excessive spark plug gaps, 1 mag onthe r eng had a .008 point gap (.016 required), its #1 & #4 distributor blocks were cracked & the #1 & #6 leads would not fire properly. Hartzell F-6-5A prop governors installed in place of F-6-35A. Acft was aprx 348 lbs over max wt lmt.

Aircraft

Registration
N90353
Reported as
Piper 601P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
61P-0211-021
Engine
Lycoming IO-540-S1A5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Marden G. Dixon
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 20, 1983
Destination
Provo, UT
Airport
MYF · Montgomery, runway 28R, 3,400 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
41
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Wind
50° at 5 knots
Visibility
3 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 46 °F
Observed at
MYF