# NTSB LAX83LA251: Piper PA-28-180, N4964L, Aguanga, CA, May 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1983, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Aguanga, CA
- Location: 33.4523° N, 116.8555° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aguanga, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4523&lon=-116.8555&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23727
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA251
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23727/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA251

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - miscellaneous - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH AN ABANDONED AUTO DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE PILOT SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER DURING TAKEOFF AND ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 85 MPH AND ROTATED. AT ABOUT 15 FT AGL THE ENGINE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE DID NOT SPUTTER OR KNOCK IT JUST FAILED TO PRODUCE ITS CUSTOMARY POWER. THE PILOT THEN ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF AND LANDED IN AN OPEN AREA BESIDE THE RWY. DURING LANDING HIS RIGHT WING GRAZED AN UNOCCUPIED CAR. AFTER THE ACFT CAME TO REST THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO TAXI BACK TO THE ARPT PARKING AREA. DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS MINOR. UPON EXAMINATION AND TESTING NO REASON COULD BE FOUND FOR THE ENGINE NOT TO OPERATE NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4964L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4964L), registered now, S/N 28-4335, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-4335
- Airframe hours: 1735
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Wheelock
- Registered owner: R. Mc Allister & R. Wheelock
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1983, 4 hours before
- Destination: SEE, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Airport: Lake Riverside, runway 27, 4,500 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 132 total, 117 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F

## 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 19830525021339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830525021339A), May 25, 1983: Piper PA28180, Aguanga, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot aborted takeoff because he thought engine lost power. Aircraft collided with abandoned car.

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.