# NTSB WPR21LA326: Piper PA-32-300, N2843T, Del Mar, CA, August 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 24, 2021, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Del Mar, CA - Coordinates: 32.9725, -117.25027 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9725&lon=-117.2503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Piper Aircraft Inc., FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103752/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103752 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA326 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a forced landing on an interstate highway and subsequent collision with vehicles. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had just received an annual inspection, and the pilot and the flight instructor were flying it back to its home base. The pilot did not have a current medical certificate, and the flight instructor was on board to act as pilot in command. On departure in a slow climb passing about 1,800 ft mean sea level, the engine began to surge and sounded like “the throttle was cycling between open and closed.” The airplane began to lose altitude. The flight instructor declared an emergency and turned toward a racetrack. They flew a downwind for the racetrack but determined they could not safely land there. Therefore, they elected to land on an interstate highway. Spotting a gap between cars, the flight instructor made a forced landing on the interstate. During the landing sequence, the airplane struck several vehicles and came to rest angled toward the interstate median barrier. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2021, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N2843T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Del Mar, California. The flight instructor and the pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane had just received an annual inspection, and he was flying it from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF), San Diego, California, back to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ), Carlsbad, California, its home base. According to the pilot, he did not have a current medical certificate, and the flight instructor was on board to act as pilot in command. They departed from MYF and climbed to about 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl). Once past the class B airspace floor of 1,800 ft msl, the pilot began a slow climb. The engine began to surge, and it sounded like “the throttle was cycling between open and closed.” The airplane began to lose altitude. The flight instructor declared an emergency and turned towards a racetrack. The pilot reported that the auxiliary fuel pump was on, that there were about 60 gallons of fuel on board, and that all electrical power was lost as they descended. The flight instructor and the pilot determined that they could not safely land on the racetrack. Therefore, they elected to land on interstate highway I-5. Spotting a gap between cars, the flight instructor made a forced landing on the interstate. During the landing sequence, the airplane struck several vehicles, which resulted in substantial damage to its wings. The airplane came to rest angled toward the interstate median barrier. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed that all fuel lines fittings were secured; fuel system continuity was established; and the fuel selector valve operated appropriately. Engine control continuity was established. Rotational continuity of the engine was established through manual rotation of the propeller, and cylinder thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders. During crankshaft rotation, spark was obtained on all ignition leads. All the cylinders were examined with a lighted borescope, which revealed no internal damage and a normal amount of combustion deposits. Overall, the examination revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. A review of flight data from the engine data monitor revealed that the No. 3 exhaust temperature remained low during the flight. However, the investigation was unable to determine if the exhaust temperature data for the No. 3 cylinder was accurate or the result of a bad sensor. The No. 3 cylinder’s head temperature was similar to those of the other cylinders. The data also revealed that the battery voltage remained constant during the flight. No anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2843T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2843T-2021-12-09), registration cancelled 2021-12-09, S/N 32-7240094, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7240094 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 5366 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: OSMOND CHRISTIAN and John Bjorneby - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2021 - Destination: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Airport: MYF, Montgomery-Gibbs Exec ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review September 12, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 1,118 total, 797 in this make and model, 986 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2019; seat: right; flight hours: 3,697 total, 38 in this make and model, 3,523 as pilot in command, 11.5 in the last 90 days, 2.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSAN, 5 nm away - METAR: KSAN 241851Z 30009KT 10SM CLR 25/16 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T02500161 $ ## 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 20210824014789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210824014789A), Aug 24, 2021: Piper PA-32-300, Del Mar, CA, Substantial damage. On August 24, 2021 N2843T departed kmyf for kcrq. The aircraft encountered engine surging and ultimately loss engine power. N2843T ended up making an emergency… ## Other investigations on N2843T (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK73FVW07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73FVW07), Sep 9, 1972: Piper PA-32 (N2843T), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103752. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14880705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA326%20NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination summary (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14883473&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA326%20Engine%20and%20Airframe%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14881973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - Engine monitor data report (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14882133&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20JPI%20Data%20Report%20WPR21LA236-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 - accident flight data (item 5, CSV, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14882190&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment1%20Accident%20Flight-Rel.csv - Attachment 2 - previous flight (item 6, CSV, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14882200&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%202%20Previous%20Flight-Rel.csv - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14903026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15062346&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Piper%20Party%20Form%20N2843T_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.