- Date
- January 30, 1989, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- San Martin, CA
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8163FPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 26330
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
Engine failure due to a loose spark plug with the reminaing plugs fouled with carbon deposits.
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
Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted to reland at the airport, however, the engine lost power completely and an emergency landing was made in a field. Inspection of the engine revealed that a spark plug was loose. The remaining plugs were severely lead and carbon fouled. The engine was successfully test run after the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8163F
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8016201
- Airframe hours
- 1,851
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Condor Aviation
- Registered owner
- Dale L. Dorr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 7, 1988 · 75 hours before
- Departed
- Q99 · San Martin, CA
- Destination
- L52 · Oceano, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- Q99 · South County
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 112 total · 89 in this make and model · 112 as pilot in command · 39 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Observed at
- SJC, 26 nm away