# NTSB LAX83LJA04: Piper PA-28-151, N32658, Near Honolulu, HI, January 10, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1983, 17:05 local (Jan 10, 1983, 03:05 UTC)
- Place: Near Honolulu, HI
- Coordinates: 21.309057, -157.750274 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3091&lon=-157.7503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23873
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LJA04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23873/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LJA04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT & PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON A SIGHT-SEEING FLT TO VIEW A VOLCANO ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII VIA KONA, HI & RETURN. THE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN TOPPED OFF BEFORE DEPARTURE, & REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE FLT. EXCEPT FOR DIFFICULTIES IN STARTING THE ENGINE (WHICH REQUIRED A JUMPED START DUE TO A LOW BATTERY), THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE ACFT WAS BETWEEN MOLOKAI & HONOLULU. AT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED & BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PLT MANAGED TO GET THE ENGINE RUNNING SMOOTHLY FOR A TIME BY ADJUSTING THE MIXTURE CONTROL, BUT THEN IT SPUTTERED AGAIN & QUIT RUNNING. THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE OPEN SEA, & ABOUT 2 HRS LATER, THE OCCUPANTS WERE RESCUED BY THE COAST GUARD. THE ACFT SANK & WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N32658 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287515211
- Airframe hours: 1714
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John E. Scheleski
- Registered owner: Albert B. Bays
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 1982, 11 hours before
- Departed: HNL, HONOLULU, HI
- Destination: KOA, KONA, HI
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 193 total, 5 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19830109000849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830109000849A), Jan 9, 1983: Piper PA28151, Honolulu, HI, Destroyed. Pilot reported out of fuel. Ditched at sea. Airplane sank.

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.