# NTSB LAX89LA172: Piper PA-28-140, N6073W, Chino, CA, April 25, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1989, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Chino, CA
- Coordinates: 33.999176, -117.679695 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9992&lon=-117.6797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26390/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA172

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRPLANE TO DETERMINE FUEL QUANITY NOR DID HE ACCURATELY CALCULATE THE FUEL CONSUMPTION. IN ADDITION, HE FAILED TO POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. UPON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN DAMAGING THE NOSE GEAR, PROPELLER, AND FUSELAGE. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED ONE GALLON. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATING OFF OF THE RIGHT TANK PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT FUEL GAUGES AND A VISUAL CHECK LEAD TO CONCLUSION THAT THE ACFT HAD APRX 1 HOUR ON EACH FUEL TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6073W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6073W-1989-07-05), registration cancelled 1989-07-05, S/N 2820086 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-20086
- Airframe hours: 2901
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Farrano, Charles M.
- Registered owner: Farano, Charles M
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1988, 29 hours before
- Airport: CNO, Chino, runway 26, 3,856 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 71 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft unknown
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CNO

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890425009889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890425009889A), Apr 25, 1989: Piper PA28140, Chino, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on long final. Made forced landing in an open field. Fuel selector was on a empty tank.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.