# NTSB LAX94LA263: Piper PA-28-235, N8549C, Cloverdale, CA, June 23, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1994, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Cloverdale, CA
- Coordinates: 38.779056, -122.919258 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7791&lon=-122.9193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28781
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28781/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA263

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - sand bar (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot reported he was cruising at 5,500 feet when the engine sputtered a couple of times.  He looked at the fuel pressure gauge, and pressure was decreasing.  After turning on the fuel pump, the pilot switched fuel tanks from the left main to the right main, and the engine did not respond.  The pilot said he then shut everything off and made a forced landing in a river bed.  An examination of the engine established aircraft electrical and fuel continuity.  No visible signs of detonation were observed in the engine cylinders.  No obstructions were noted in the fuel lines.  The engine was started and run for 15 minutes at 3 different power combinations.

## Factual narrative

On June 23, 1994, at 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235 aircraft, N8549C, collided with ground obstructions during a forced landing near Cloverdale, California.  The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a personal cross-country flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The pilot was not injured.  The flight originated at Covelo airport on the day of the accident at 1200  with a destination of Oakland, California.

In a telephone interview, the pilot reported he was cruising at 5,500 feet when the engine sputtered a couple of times.  He looked at the fuel pressure gauge, and pressure indication was decreasing.  After turning on the fuel pump, the pilot switched fuel tanks from the left main to the right main.  After doing so, the engine did not respond.  The pilot said he then shut everything off and made a forced landing in a river bed.

On June 29, an examination was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who reported that aircraft electrical and fuel continuity were established.  No visible signs of detonation were observed in the engine cylinder.  No obstructions were noted in the fuel lines.  The engine was started and run 15 minutes at 3 different power combinations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8549C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8549C), registered now, S/N 287610078, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7610078
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4-B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alfredo Matteoni
- Registered owner: Shirley D. Jacobs
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1993, 125 hours before
- Departed: O09, COVELO, CA
- Destination: OAK, OAKLAND, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 607 total, 260 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: UKI, 20 nm away

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.