# NTSB LAX83FUA02: Piper PA-28-161, N2239M, Avalon, CA, January 3, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 3, 1983, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Avalon, CA
- Coordinates: 33.380435, -118.450225 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3804&lon=-118.4502&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23536
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FUA02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23536/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FUA02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND AT CATALINA ISLAND. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED ANDTHE TWO REAR SEAT PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE PILOT HAD NOT HAD THE SPECIFIED THREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS AS REQUIRED BY FAR 61.75(C). THE PILOT APPLIED POWER FOR GO-AROUND WHEN HE WAS OVER HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD BEEN ADVISED TO USE RUNWAY 4 BY UNICOM BUT HE USED RUNWAY 22. THE WIND WAS FROM 040 DEGREES AT 11 KTS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND POSITIONED IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2239M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2239M-1985-07-25), registration cancelled 1985-07-25, S/N 28-7816259 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287816259
- Airframe hours: 2871
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peninsula Aviation
- Registered owner: George E. Twidwell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1982, 58 hours before
- Departed: TOA, TORRENCE, CA
- Destination: AVX, AVALON, CA
- Airport: AVX, Catalina, runway 22, 3,240 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 511 total, 4 in this make and model, 391 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830103000039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830103000039A), Jan 3, 1983: Piper PA28161, Avalon, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Attempted a go around with the brakes on and flaps full down. Stalled and crashed 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.

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