LAX87LA316

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-30-160 · Condord, CA · August 23, 1987

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 23, 1987, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
Condord, CA
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N8441Piper PA-30-160
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 26, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
25674

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb
Fluid,fuel - waterCause
Aircraft preflight - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Maintenance,compliance with ad - disregardedPilot in commandCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Emergency procedure - improperPilot in commandCause

Analysis

After an annual inspection the acft was prepared for a test flight. The pilot loaded 3 passengers and began the run-up checks. During run-up the left engine ran rough. After the roughness cleared the pilot initiated the takeoff. As the acft accelerated down the rwy the left engine ran rough again and the takeoff was aborted. The pilot made another run-up check and another takeoff attempt was made without incident. As the aircraft climbed thru 300 feet MSL the rt engine began to sputter. The climb was continued to 500 feet MSL before the power from the right engine was reduced and the pilot shut the engine down and feathered the propeller. The acft descended as the pilot initiated a turn towards the airport and impacted the marshy ground 2.75 miles from the airport. Post acc exam revealed water and rust particiles on the injector diaphragm and on the fuel inlet screen. An AD was issued on this acft requiring daily and post refueling checks of the fuel sys by draining to avoid the accumulation of water and sediment.

Aircraft

Registration
N8441
Reported as
Piper PA-30-160
Category
Airplane
Serial number
30921
Airframe hours
6,600
Engine
Lycoming IO-320-B1A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 91
Registered owner
James Warnick
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 21, 1987
Departed
CCR · Concord, CA
Airport
CCR · Buchanan Fld, runway 32, 4,601 × 150 ft, concrete

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
50
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,440 total · 440 in this make and model · 2,333 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 12 knots
Visibility
25 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CCR