- Date
- September 27, 1991, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- San Carlos, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2520UPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910927063269A
- Case key
- 27372
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
The failure of the number 3 intake valve resulting in a total loss of engine power. A factor in this accident was the unsuitable terrain for landing the aircraft.
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
The pilot reported that the airplane was being flown for the first time since replacement of several major engine components. After a successful run-up, the aircraft departed the airfield. During the initial climb at about 100' AGL, the engine began to run rough and then lost total power. A forced landing was made to a wet, muddy area. The aircraft came to a sudden stop in the muddy area. An examination by an FAA inspector determined that the engine's number 3 intake valve failed. The mode of failure could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2520U
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8016028
- Airframe hours
- 5,594
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald Landen
- Registered owner
- Donald Landen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 9, 1991 · 25 hours before
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
- 62
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,527 total · 1,421 in this make and model · 1,452 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SQL, 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.