# NTSB LAX95LA045: Piper PA-23, N2027P, Oxnard, CA, December 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 1994, 18:11 local (Dec 8, 1994, 02:11 UTC) - Place: Oxnard, CA - Coordinates: 34.189373, -119.170188 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1894&lon=-119.1702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28988 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28988/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA045 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to ensure the aircraft was secured prior to attempting an engine start by handpropping. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - starting engine(s) - object - fence - object - tree(s) - tie down - not used, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT NOTED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT TO OXNARD HE DID A LONG CRUISE DESCENT WITH THE ENGINES AT A VERY LOW POWER OUTPUT. HE SAID HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD GENERATORS INSTEAD OF ALTERNATORS, AND THAT THE ENGINE SPEED HE WAS USING FOR THE DESCENT WAS BELOW THE SPEED REQUIRED TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND THE PILOT DEPLANED HIS PASSENGER AFTER SHUTTING DOWN BOTH ENGINES. HE THEN TRIED TO START THE ENGINES AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CHARGE WAS TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINES. HE SET THE BRAKES, THEN STARTED THE RIGHT ENGINE BY HANDPROPPING. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT AND ATTEMPTED TO USE THE RIGHT ENGINE GENERATOR TO HELP START THE LEFT ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK OVER ENOUGH TO ACHIEVE A START. THE PILOT THEN RETARDED THE RIGHT ENGINE THROTTLE TO IDLE, MADE SURE THE BRAKES WERE SET, AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO HANDPROP THE LEFT ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED AND WENT TO A HIGH POWER SETTING. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD GET BACK IN THE AIRCRAFT, IT LEFT THE PARKING SPACE AND BEGAN TURNING IN CIRCLES. AFTER THE THIRD CIRCLE, THE LEFT WING HIT A FENCE AND A TREE. ## Factual narrative On December 7, 1994, at 1811 Pacific standard time, an unattended Piper PA-23, N2027P, collided with an airport fence and a tree after getting away from the pilot during a handprop start attempt at the Oxnard, California, airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was originating as the return portion of a flight from San Jose, to Oxnard, California. In his written and oral statements, the pilot noted that during the flight to Oxnard he performed a long cruise descent with the engines at a very low power output. The pilot reported that he was unaware that the aircraft was equipped with generators as opposed to alternators, and that the engine speed he was using for the descent was below the speed required to keep the battery charged. The aircraft landed at Oxnard and the pilot deplaned his passenger after shutting down both engines. The pilot then attempted to start the engines and discovered that the battery charge was too low to crank the engines. The pilot said that he set the brakes then started the right engine by handpropping. He then returned to the cockpit and attempted to use the right engine generator to help start the left engine. During the start attempt, the engine would not crank over enough to achieve a start. The pilot then retarded the right engine throttle to idle, made sure the brakes were set, then exited the aircraft to handprop the left engine. The engine started and went to a high power setting. Before the pilot could get back in the aircraft, it left the parking space and began turning in circles. After the third circle, the left wing hit a fence and a tree. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2027P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2027P-2002-09-16), registration cancelled 2002-09-16, S/N 23-601, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-601 - Airframe hours: 6092 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John H. Morgan - Registered owner: Davids Aviation, Inc. - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1994, 18 hours before - Departed: OXR - Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA - Airport: OXR, Oxnard ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,152 total, 103 in this make and model, 1,092 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19941207041199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941207041199A), Dec 7, 1994: Piper PA23, Oxnard, CA, Substantial damage. Low battery. Elected hand prop right engine. Got out brakes set. Started left engine. Overpowered brakes. Hit fence 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.