Piper PA-28-235 accident near Long Beach, California, April 23, 1989
On April 23, 1989 at about 8:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8827W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach Daugherty Fld. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE PROPER FUEL TANK FOR AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE TAKOEFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1989 · about 8:30 am local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach Daugherty Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8827W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. HE DID STATE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THE ENGINE QUIT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A SOFT FIELD. THREE OF THE FOUR FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY OR NEAR THE UNUSEABLE FUEL QUANTITY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION.
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: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 5,420 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.