- Date
- April 27, 1988, 00:14 local (07:14 UTC)
- Place
- Hayward, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3588YPiper PA-31-350
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 9, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880427011479A
- Case key
- 25829
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilot's failure to detect an uncommanded propeller feathering procedures established in the pilot's operating handbook.
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
Upon arriving at his destination the pilot began a visual, night descent to his destination airport. As the aircraft descended the pilot reduced the airspeed and deployed flaps. As the aircraft neared the airport the pilot increased the flap angle and adjusted the propellers to the landing RPM and the airspeed decreased. The pilot stated that at this time he heard a noise that sounded like a flutter which he thought was emanating from the right engine. Full throttle was applied, but the airspeed continued to decrease and the pilot elected to land on a freeway. The aircraft collided with a motor vehicle on touchdown and slid to a stop. Post crash exam revealed the RPM control levers and bellranks to be in the high RPM settings. The left prop was found in the feathered position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3588Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31-350
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 318052129
- Airframe hours
- 3,355
- Engine
- Lycoming TSIO-540-J2BD, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Helicopters Unlimited
- Registered owner
- Helicopters Unlimited Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 22, 1988 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- CCB · Upland, CA
- Destination
- HWD · Hayward, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- HWD · Hayward Air Term., runway 28, 5,024 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 40
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,557 total · 30 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OAK, 7 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.