Piper PA-24-250 accident near Los Angeles, California, August 22, 1982
On August 22, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6825P, was destroyed in an accident near Los Angeles, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- August 22, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6825P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1958
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT DEPARTED SANTA MONICA AT 0830 FOR A LOCAL FLT. AT 0926 THE PLT CALLED FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FOR LANDING AT SANTA MONICA. AT 9028 THE PLT 3 MI EAST OF A VFR REPORTING POINT WITH ENG TROUBLE & THAT HE HAD TO COME DOWN. THE ACFT WING STRUCK THE ROOF OF A HOUSE IN A DENSELY POPULATED RESIDENTIAL AREA COMING TO REST IN THE STREET ON TOP OF TWO CARS.THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE LINE TO THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK WHICH WAS FOUND DRY. THE RUPTURED LEFT TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 2 GALS. FIREMEN ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY AN ADDITIONAL 2 GALS HAD FLOWED OUT. ALL FUEL ON BOARD THE ACFT WAS USABLE.
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
- Flight time: 307 hours in all; 212 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 227 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,962 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 8:30 am
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,987 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 am from SMO, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.