Piper PA-28-140 accident near Oceana, California, April 15, 1983
On April 15, 1983 at about 7:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5985F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oceana, California (Oceano airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 15, 1983 · about 7:14 pm local time
- Place
- Oceana, California · Oceano · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5985F · no longer on the register · serial 28-77225072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT, A MEXICAN NATIONAL, WAS ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT. HE REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT LOCATE THE DESTINATION ARPT AT SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. AFTER CIRCLING THE AREA, HE SAW THE OCEANA ARPT & STARTED TO LAND. WHILE ON FINAL APCH, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RESIDENTIAL TRAILER DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK & THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY. FUEL WAS STILL REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK. THE STUDENT HAD MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK ABOUT 1/2 HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF & HAD NOT CHANGED ITS POSITION AFTER THAT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,886 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 20, 1983; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 2,270 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from SBP, 8 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.