Piper PA-28-180 accident near Bakersfield, California, August 29, 1984
On August 29, 1984 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7916W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Bakersfield). It was a personal 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
- August 29, 1984 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Bakersfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7916W · no longer on the register · serial 1952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT LANDED LONG ON AN INTENDED TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND THEREFORE, ROLLED OUT TO A FULL STOP ON RWY 31. A 180 DEG TURN WAS MADE AT THE END IN ORDER TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 13. PRIOR TO INITIATING THE TAKEOFF, ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PLT, HE PLACED THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION SINCE IT WAS THE FULLEST OF THE 2 TANKS. VERY SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG LOST POWER. THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT IN THE LEFT SEAT TO SWITCH TANKS, WHICH HE DID. WITH THE CFI TAKING CONTROL OF THE ACFT A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD ROLLING THROUGH A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. NEITHER PLT CHANGED THE POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT 'OFF' POSITION. THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD 4 POSITIONS, LEFT & RIGHT AT THE 10 O'CLOCK AND 2 O'CLOCK POSITIONS AND 2 'OFF' AT THE 4 O'CLOCK AND 8 O'CLOCK. EITHER OFF SETTING CAN BE SELECTED FROM ANY OTHER POSITION. THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL AND THE LEFT CONTAINED 1 GAL. NO FUEL REMAINED IN THE ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP OUTPUT LINE.
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: instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: VGT N. Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.