Piper PA-28-161 accident near Van Nuys, California, April 15, 1999
On April 15, 1999, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8466F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The check pilot's inadequate supervision of the flight and his failure to ensure that an adequate altitude margin existed during the maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1999
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8466F · registry record · serial 28-7716006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to conduct a biennial flight review. The private pilot and check pilot had spent an hour in the traffic pattern reviewing takeoffs, landings, and emergency procedures. The check pilot reported that the private pilot had conducted the maneuvers satisfactorily, and he requested that the private pilot take him to the accident location to simulate engine out procedures. Once at the accident location, the check pilot reduced the power to idle and instructed the pilot to conduct the approach on a dirt road. The check pilot reported that at 50 feet agl, he was satisfied with the maneuver and instructed the pilot to go around. The private pilot stated that he applied full power to go around, but the airspeed and the aircraft were too low and the application of power could not arrest the rate of descent prior to contacting the ground. The check pilot said that the pilot did not react to his request to discontinue the maneuver and froze on the controls. The check pilot was unable to gain control of the aircraft prior to it touching down off the dirt road and striking a dirt mound in the grass. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the aircraft or engine by either of the pilots.
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
- Flight time: 181 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 21, 1998; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 am from VNY, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.