Piper PA-23-160 accident near San Dimas, California, April 16, 2008
On April 16, 2008 at about 3:41 am local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N4080P, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near San Dimas, California (Brackett Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power in the left engine due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff following the power loss.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2008 · about 3:41 am local time
- Place
- San Dimas, California · Brackett Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4080P · no longer on the register · serial 23-1557
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor intended to demonstrate the airplane to the pilot rated passenger. The owner of the flight school that owned the airplane said that the flight was not authorized and that she had no knowledge that the instructor was going to take the airplane. The owner said that the airplane had been down for an annual inspection for 6 weeks and the mechanic had not completed the work. The mechanic said the left main fuel tank was empty when he last worked on the airplane 4 days before the accident. No records were found indicating the airplane was refueled prior to the accident flight. The flight instructor claimed that during his preflight inspection, he checked the fuel by opening each fuel tank and estimated there were 25 gallons in each main tank. The instructor said that the left engine lost all power immediately after liftoff, but he did not abort the takeoff. He was unable to maintain airspeed and altitude and the airplane banked left and descended to ground impact. The passenger reported that the airplane "fishtailed" from right to left during the takeoff roll, and that he yelled at the instructor to abort the takeoff several times; however, the flight instructor continued the takeoff. After lifting off, the flight instructor held the control wheel in the full left aileron position and was trying to make left rudder inputs. The passenger yelled at the flight instructor to add right rudder as the instructor added left rudder trim. As the passenger was readjusting the rudder trim to the right, the airplane hit the ground. During examination of the wreckage, no fuel was noted in the left main tank, and 10 gallons of fuel were drained from the right main tank. The fuel selectors were positioned to the main tanks. No evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies were noted during examination of the left and right engines. The owner's manual for the airplane states that if an engine fails after leaving the ground, but with sufficient landing area ahead, a landing should be effected immediately. The takeoff was on a 4,839-foot-long runway and the airplane likely became airborne in about 1,000 feet, and there was adequate distance left to land the airplane back on the runway.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Engine out control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 14, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 482 hours in all; 63 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 25 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 28, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 3:40 am
- Destination: POC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 4,839 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 am from POC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.