- Date
- March 31, 1988, 14:33 local (22:33 UTC)
- Place
- Torrance, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6574JPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 13, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880331006939A
- Case key
- 25819
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.
Analysis
Just after takeoff, the plt noticed that the airspeed indicator was inoperative. The plt notified the tower that he was returning for landing and stated the problem. During the turn from base to final approach, the pilot overshot both the right and left rwys. The acft was landed to the left and short of the rwys where, during the landing roll, the acft collided with two parked vehicles. Inspection of the acft revealed that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions, however, duct tape was found wrapped around the pitot vane. Examination of the aircraft logbooks revealed a pitot/static test was accomplished just prior to this flight. The mechanic who performed the test stated that he did not remove the tape.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6574J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-5028
- Airframe hours
- 3,000
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Talbert, Walter P.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 13, 1988 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- TOA · Torrance, CA
- Destination
- CPM · Compton, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- TOA · Torrance, runway 29, 5,000 × 150 ft, dirt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 565 total · 125 in this make and model · 440 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TOA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.