Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Malibu, California, September 21, 1982
On September 21, 1982 at about 10:21 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N8094F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Malibu, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- September 21, 1982 · about 10:21 pm local time
- Place
- Malibu, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8094F · registry record · serial 7931306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG SEIZED APPROXIMATELY 3500 FT & THE ACFT WAS DITCHED OFF THE BEACH. THE RIGHT MAG DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK SHOWED EVIDENCE OF CARBON TRACKING & CROSS FIRING. NEITHER END OF THE RIGHT MAG HAD BREATHER PLUGS INSTALLED. ALL SPARK PLUGS WERE EXCESSIVELY FOULED & SEVERELY ERODED. SPRINGS ON THE SPARK PLUGS LEADS WERE BURNED & DIRTY. THE #1 CONROD WAS SPLITLENGTHWISE & WAS IN SEVERAL PIECES. EXAMINATION OF THE LOG BOOK SHOWED IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PRACTICES SUCH AS OVERHAULING A CYLINDER & INSTALLING DETERGENT TYPE OIL. NO EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH TELEDYNE SERVICE BULLETIN #612 COULD BE FOUND. THIS BULLETIN RECOMMENDS PERIODIC MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TO ESTABLISH CLEANING & INSPECTION GUIDELINES GOVERNING BENDIX MAGNETOS & IGNITION HARNESSES.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,818 hours in all; 810 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 2,689 as pilot in command; 2,165 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,168 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FBI (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Danforth & Assoc.
The flight
- Departed from: Santa Monica CA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 162°F (72°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.