Piper PA-28-161 accident near Fullerton, California, March 21, 1989
On March 21, 1989 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N84435, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton airport). 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
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, THE SELECTION OF THE IMPROPER FUEL TANK BY THE STUDENT, AND POOR SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE DUAL STUDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1989 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N84435 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8216010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS. THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK FOR DEPARTURE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,173 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 2,058 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,523 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 1989; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Facilities INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 10:35 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:43 pm from FUL, 1 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.