Piper PA-28-201T accident near Van Nuys, California, May 16, 1982
On May 16, 1982 at about 7:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-201T, registered N8089N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1982 · about 7:47 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-201T · all PA-28-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8089N · no longer on the register · serial 28-7921058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT AT ABOUT 1500 FT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE PROPELLER STOPPED TURNING. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT TURN THE PROPELLER. THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT THE VAN NUYS AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASH LANDED BETWEEN RUNWAYS 16L AND 16R WHILE IT WAS STILL IN A TURN. WHILE RECOVERING THE AIRCRAFT, A HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. A DISASSEMBLE AND INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER TWO CONNECTING ROD, PN 642130, HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE DUE TO PARTIAL SURFACE DECARBURIZATION.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 385 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 635 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: California Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 12:35 pm
- Destination: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from VNY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.