Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Altadena, California, January 6, 1992
On January 6, 1992 at about 9:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2638R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Altadena, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY SELECTING AN EMPTY TANK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY WITHOUT HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF A PREVIOUS LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1992 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Altadena, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2638R · no longer on the register · serial 35237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA 28R-200, COLLIDED WITH WIRES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER SUSTAINING A LOSS OF ENG POWER. THE AIRPLANE LOST ENG POWER WHILE FLYING ABOUT 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND LEVEL. THE PLT THEN SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND THE AIRPLANE REGAINED ENG POWER. THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN AND THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WIRES DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, AND THEN STRUCK A TRUCK INJURING THE DRIVER. THE PLT INDICATED HE COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT CHECKS BEFORE TAKEOFF AND NOTED THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT TANK, BUT ADEQUATE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RUPTURED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD SWITCHED TANKS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL SPILL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. AN ENG EXAM AND OPERATION TEST WAS CONDUCTED. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES OR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED. ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE ENG QUIT DURING A FLIGHT AND WAS RESTARTED. THE PLT DID NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE INITIAL ENG FAILURE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 824 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 8:49 pm
- Destination: EMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from EMT, 10 miles away
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.