# NTSB LAX86FA131: Piper PA-28-181, N81918, Newport Beach, CA, March 3, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1986, 23:12 local (Mar 3, 1986, 07:12 UTC)
- Place: Newport Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.600048, -117.85984 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6000&lon=-117.8598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24904/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA131

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi)
  - judgment - poor, dual student (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), dual student (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), dual student (cause)
  - low pass - performed (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, dual student (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS RPRTED TO BE ON A DUAL, NIGHT RECURRENT, TRAINING FLT. THE STUDENT PLT'S WIFE RPRTD THAT THE FLT INSTRUCTOR(CFI) & HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN DRINKING BEER BEFORE THEY & THE PASSENGER (ANOTHER STUDENT PLT) DEPARTED ON THE FLT. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLY VERY LOW OVER A PIER AT NEWPORT BEACH, THEN ENTER A RGT CLIMBING TURN. AS THE ACFT CONTINUED THE TURN, IT BEGAN A DESCENT & SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED THE OCEAN, CARTWHEELED & SANK. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A NOSE LOW, RGT WING LOW ATTITUDE. TOXICOLOGY EXAMS REVEALED THE STUDENT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.11%, BUT ONLY A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL (0.02%) WAS FOUND IN THE CFI'S BLOOD. TESTS FOR DRUGS SHOWED THE STUDENT HAD 0.32 MICROGRAMS/ML OF BENZOYLECGONINE IN HIS BLOOD. ALSO, IN 1 OF 2 TESTS FOR COCAINE, THE STUDENT'S BLOOD TESTED POSITIVE. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF THE PASSENGER FOR ALCOHOL & DRUGS WERE NEGATIVE. THE CFI HAD ONLY 392 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81918](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81918-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 288090288 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-8090288
- Airframe hours: 796
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Flight Center
- Registered owner: Lynn R. Rowbotham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 1986, 30 hours before
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Airport: SNA, John Wayne/Orange

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 392 total, 291 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA, 5 nm away

## 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 19860302006849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860302006849A), Mar 2, 1986: Piper PA28181, Newport Beach, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled and wing struck water before recovery could be made after a low pass and pullup at night. Alcohol a factor.

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.