Piper PA-34-200T accident near Long Beach, California, May 30, 1986
On May 30, 1986 at about 11:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N8306Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). It was a personal 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
- May 30, 1986 · about 11:26 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8306Z · no longer on the register · serial 34-8170054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 16L AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT (LGB), LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BOTH ENGINES SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO LAND ON THE AIRPORT. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS NOT COMPROMISED; THE RIGHT FUEL TANK FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND RUPTURED. FAA PERSONNEL REPTD THAT THERE WAS MINIMAL FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DSCLD THAT THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SERVO UNIT IN BOTH ENGINES DID NOT CONTAIN ANY 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 4,300 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 4,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,480 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1986; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-EB1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aztec Air
The flight
- Departed from: ONT Ontario CA at 11:07 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16L, 4,267 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:26 pm from LGB
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.