Piper PA-28-160 accident near Compton, California, October 21, 1991
On October 21, 1991 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N41669, was substantially damaged in an accident near Compton, California (Compton 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 IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE ALTERNATOR'S DRIVE BELT BY THE AIRCRAFT OWNER WHICH RESULTED IN ITS TOTAL FAILURE. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE DISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THE PILOT TO STOP THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1991 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Compton, California · Compton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N41669 · registry record · serial 28-7415312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE GROUND ROLL PORTION OF THE STUDENT PILOT'S TAKEOFF SMOKE ENTERED THE COCKPIT. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF ON THE 3,650-FOOT-LONG RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE ALTERNATOR DRIVE BELT WAS BROKEN. THE BELT WAS FOUND AGAINST THE EXHAUST ASSEMBLY.
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: student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,670 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- 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.