Piper PA-32-300 accident near Van Nuys, California, October 2, 1985
On October 2, 1985 at about 11:34 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N9AZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- October 2, 1985 · about 11:34 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N9AZ · no longer on the register · serial 32-7540049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE CLIMBED TO 1800 FT MSL (APRX 1000 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL) AND ENTERED A LEFT TURN. THE ENG FAILED IN THE TURN AN HE SELECTED A DRY FLOOD CONTROL BASIN ON WHICH TO LAND. THE ACFT'S AIRSPEED WAS SLOW ON LANDING AND THE TOUCHDOWN WAS HARD. THE HARD LANDING OVERSTRESSED THE AIRFRAME AND RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL ACFT DAMAGE. L ACFT DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT FAILED TO DISCLOSED ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND FULL OF FUEL. THE LEFT AUX TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE RIGHT AUX TANK CONTAINED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,846 hours in all; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 682 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K15 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 11:28 pm
- Destination: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 pm from VNY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.