# NTSB LAX85LA190: Piper PA-30, N802Y, Death Valley, CA, March 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1985, 16:00 local (Mar 29, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Death Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.60078, -116.830795 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6008&lon=-116.8308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24686
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA190
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24686/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA190

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,other - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

DURING A FLT FROM RENO, NV TO PHOENIX, AZ, THERE WAS A PARTIAL POWER LOSS IN THE LEFT ENG AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU 15,000 FT WITH AN OUTSIDE AIR TEMP OF -15 DEG. THE FUEL SELECTORS COULD NOT BE MOVED, SO THE PLT RETARDED THE RIGHT ENG POWER & DESCENDED. THE LEFT ENG CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH, SO HE DIVERTED & LANDED AT THE DEATH VALLEY ARPT. ABOUT 1/2 HR AFTER LANDING, THE FUEL SELECTOR COULD BE MOVED. THE PLT SAID HE DRAINED THE FUEL TANKS UNTIL THE ENGS RAN SMOOTHLY. HE THEN LOADED HIS PASSENGERS & STARTED BOTH ENGS. WHILE TAXIING TO TAKEOFF, THE LEFT ENG LOST POWER & WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PASSENGERS DEPLANED & THEN THE PLT MADE A SINGLE ENG TAKEOFF. AFTER THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE, IT CLIMBED BRIEFLY, THEN BEGAN TURNING TO THE LEFT. AFTER TURNING ABOUT 130 DEG, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND BETWEEN 2 SAND DUNES. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT ENG SERVO & RIGHT MAIN FUEL SUMP. A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER WAS FOUND MIXED WITH FUEL IN THE MAIN TANKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N802Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-784
- Airframe hours: 3563
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Underwood Assoc. Inc.
- Registered owner: Adelbert C. Underwood
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 1984
- Departed: L06, DEATH VALLEY, CA
- Airport: L06, Death Valley, runway 15, 3,040 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,039 total, 2,418 in this make and model, 2,707 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 19850328012099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850328012099A), Mar 28, 1985: Piper PA30, Death Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Unable to start left engine, took off on right engine only after liftoff, right engine lost power. Water in fuel.

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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