Piper PA-23-250 accident near Hawthorne, California, August 13, 1991
On August 13, 1991 at about 7:49 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N4553P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hawthorne, California (Hawthorne Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRPLANE'S ABILITY AND HIS PERSONAL ABILITY BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), BY INTENTIONALLY SHUTTING OFF FUEL TO AN ENGINE DURING A CRITICAL PART OF FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT'S LACK OF SINGLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1991 · about 7:49 pm local time
- Place
- Hawthorne, California · Hawthorne Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N4553P · no longer on the register · serial 27-59
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI TURNED OFF THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT ENGINE FUEL SELECTOR TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB-OUT FROM THE AIRPORT. AFTER THE DUAL STUDENT PERFORMED THE ENGINE-OUT EMERG CHECKLIST, WHICH INCLUDED FEATHERING THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER, THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE DUAL STUDENT TO RE-ENTER THE RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN UNFEATHERING PROPELLER SYSTEM. THE DUAL STUDENT OVERSHOT THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE WHEN THE CFI NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DOWN LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS AND EXECUTED A SINGLE ENGINE GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO CLIMB AND THE CFI ELECTED TO LAND ON A STREET. THE AIRPLANE COLLLIDED WITH A SIGN AND A PICKUP TRUCK BEFORE COMING TO REST.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Gdw Construction Company
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,956 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from HHR, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.