- Date
- March 31, 1989, 08:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place
- Newport Beach, CA
- Injuries
- 5 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- CGWPSPiper PA-60-601P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 26220
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
Failure of the pilot to attain adequate airspeed before maneuvering (turning) back toward the airport, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. A factor related to the accident was: improper maintenance/installation of a fuel injector reference air line, which allowed contamination of the injectors and loss of power in the right engine.
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
Svrl mechanic witnesses at the arpt said the rgt eng backfired & trailed black smoke during the takeoff ground roll. Rprtdly, the takeoff roll was about 80% longer than normal. Witnesses said the acft staggered off the ground, was slow & never got above 100 feet AGL. The plt rprtd to the tower that the flt had to come back to the rwy. Shortly thereafter, witnesses saw the acft enter a steep left turn, apparently stall, then crash into some tennis courts. An investigation revealed evidence that the rgt eng had lost power. A modification kit for the fuel injector reference air lines was incorrectly installed & allowed an unfiltered air source. Spectral analysis of residue (from the rgt eng turbo charger compressor) revealed that it had the same composition as the alternate air door seal. Traces of the material were found in the fuel injector reference air line.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGWPS
- Reported as
- Piper PA-60-601P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 61P-0522-219
- Airframe hours
- 1,908
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-S1A5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Anthony Deis
- Registered owner
- Richardsons Jewellery Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · July 18, 1988 · 204 hours before
- Departed
- SNA
- Destination
- PIH · Pocatello, ID
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- SNA · John Wayne, runway 19R, 5,700 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificates
- Private, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,490 total · 243 in this make and model · 1,440 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SNA, 2 nm away