Piper PA28-235 accident near Irwindale, California, December 28, 1983
On December 28, 1983 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Piper PA28-235, registered N55665, was substantially damaged in an accident near Irwindale, 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
- December 28, 1983 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Irwindale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-235 · all PA28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N55665 · registry record · serial 28-7310123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE FLT INSTR THE ENG LOST PWR AFTER THE STU HAD COMPLETD VAROUS TURNING MANEUVERS. HE STATED THAT THE FUEL SEL WAS IN THE LEFT MAIN POSITION AND ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE 18 GALS IN THAT TANK, 25 GALS IN THE RIGHT TANK,5 GALS IN THE LEFT TIP TANK AND 1 GAL IN THE RIGHT TIP TANK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE TIP TANKS HAD PURPOSELY NOT BEEN REFUELED RECENTLY BECAUSE THE OWNERS WANTED TO BURN OFF WHAT WAS LEFT IN THEM IN ORDER TO SERVICE THEM. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE MAIN GEAR WERE SHEARED OFF AND THE TIP TANKS WERE RUPTURED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,110 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 960 as pilot in command; 5 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,339 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1983; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from EMT, 5 miles away
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.