Piper PA-30 accident near Pacoima, California, January 23, 1992
On January 23, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8662Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacoima, California (Whiteman 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 IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNLOCKED NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pacoima, California · Whiteman
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8662Y · registry record · serial 30-1804
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE BAGGAGE DOOR CAME OPEN. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT THE REMAINING RUNWAY WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY STEERED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TO AVOID A STONE WALL AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR DISCLOSED THAT ITS LOCKING MECHANISM WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ENGAGED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,642 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1991; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,780 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,960 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.