Piper PA-28-151 accident near Milpitas, California, May 3, 1983
On May 3, 1983 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N40755, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milpitas, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 3, 1983 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Milpitas, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N40755 · registry record · serial 28-7415079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DESCENDING THRU 4300 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A GULF COURSE, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT WING OF THE ACFT IMPACTED A POLE & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE 5/16 INCH BOLT, PN STD-847, THAT SECURED THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR TO THE AFT END OF THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BACKED OUT. THIS RESULTED IN SHEARING OF THE DOWL PIN. IN TURN, THE CRANKSHAFT COULD NOT DRIVE THE ACCESSORIES, WHICH INCLUDED THE MAGNETOS & VACUUM PUMP. THE ENG HAD OPERATED 371 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,656 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 3, 1982; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mr. Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: 061 Cameron Park CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.