# NTSB LAX90FA070: Piper PA-28-161, N8251B, Burbank, CA, January 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1990, 20:14 local (Jan 19, 1990, 04:14 UTC)
- Place: Burbank, CA
- Coordinates: 34.170558, -118.340744 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1706&lon=-118.3407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26608
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26608/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA070

## Probable cause

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) DUE TO HIS IMPAIRMENT FROM USE OF MARIJUANA, INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE CFI, AND HIS FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WAS MAINTAINED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE CFI'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO ASSURE THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN ITS CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command(cfi)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A NGT INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLT WITH 2 ADDITIONAL PLTS ABOARD, WHO WERE SEEKING INSTRUMENT RATINGS.  SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RWY 7, THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) RADIOED TO THE TOWER THAT AN IMMEDIATE LNDG WAS NECESSARY, BUT HE DID NOT GIVE A REASON.  THE FLT WAS CLRD TO LAND.  THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP LEFT TURN AT LOW ALT & DESCEND ABRUPTLY.  IT CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT ABOUT 500 FT NORTH OF RWY 7 ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 260 DEG.  IMPACT OCCURRED IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND.  TESTS OF THE CFI'S BLOOD SHOWED THAT IT CONTAINED 1 NG/ML OF DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (A PSYCHOACTIVE COMPONENT OF MARIJUANA) & 7 NG/ML OF DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (A METABOLITE OF MARIJUANA). GROSS WT OF THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 2411 LBS; ITS MAX CERTIFIED GROSS WT WAS 2325 LBS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8251B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8251B-1991-04-18), registration cancelled 1991-04-18, S/N 288216182 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8216182
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Daniel Tompkins, doing business as Pilots Coop Supply
- Registered owner: John F. Campbell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1989
- Departed: BUR
- Destination: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BUR, Burbank, runway 7, 6,074 × 150 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUR, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900118000709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900118000709A), Jan 18, 1990: Piper PA28161, Burbank, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. On climbout advised need to return then stalled crashed and burned. Was over gross. CFI tested positive marijuana.

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.

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