Piper PA-28-161 accident near San Carlos, California, September 27, 1991
On September 27, 1991 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2520U, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, 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 FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 INTAKE VALVE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1991 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- San Carlos, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2520U · registry record · serial 28-8016028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL MAJOR ENGINE COMPONENTS. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL RUN-UP, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE AIRFIELD. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 100' AGL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THEN LOST TOTAL POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A WET, MUDDY AREA. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE MUDDY AREA. AN EXAMINATION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE'S NUMBER 3 INTAKE VALVE FAILED. THE MODE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,527 hours in all; 1,421 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,594 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 1991; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from SQL, 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.