# NTSB LAX87LA048: Piper PA-32R-300, N2209Q, San Jose, CA, December 13, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 13, 1986, 00:55 local (08:55 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Coordinates: 41.880676, -120.109107 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8807&lon=-120.1091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25477
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25477/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA048

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb
  - exhaust system,muffler - exploded (cause)
  - climb - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,ram air/induction air - blocked(partial) (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - engine assembly - failure,partial (cause)
  - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A PIPER PA 32R-300 LANDED SHORT OF THE RWY AFTER A LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT REPORTED DURING THE CLIMB THAT HE TURNED ON THE HEATER AND THE WINDSHIELD TURNED BLACK OBSCURING OUTSIDE VISION. THE PLT ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A 'PUNGENT ODOR' AT THE SAME TIME. THE PLT RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO CLEAR. WHEN THE PLT ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO RESUME THE CLIMB THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THEN WOULD NOT PRODUCE POWER. HE WAS GIVEN RADAR VECTORS TOWARD AN AIRPORT. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO JUDGE HIS POSITION IN RELATION TO THE AIRPORT DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. HE PREMATURELY LOST ALTITUDE BY S-TURNING AND SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED SHORT OF AND PARALLEL TO THE RWY. THE AIRCRAFT'S ENG WAS EXAMINED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. IT WAS NOTED THAT 4 SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN THE AREA OF THE ELECTRODE. FURTHER EXAMINATION DURING A TEARDOWN INSPECTION REVEALED THE MUFFLER HAD EXPLODED BLOCKING THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2209Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2209Q-1989-03-15), registration cancelled 1989-03-15, S/N 32R7780233 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R7780233
- Airframe hours: 2745
- Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Flight East Inc.
- Registered owner: Shelton, John V
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 1986, 95 hours before
- Departed: HWD, HAYWARD, CA
- Destination: BUR, BURBANK, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RHV, Reid Hillview, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 2,705 total, 119 in this make and model, 2,524 as pilot in command, 266 in the last 90 days, 99 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NUQ, 12 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 19861213067529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861213067529A), Dec 13, 1986: Piper PA32R300, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. The engine lost power and the aircraft landed short of the runway. Engine muffler had exploded blocking air intake.

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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