Piper PA 28R-200 accident near Santa Maria, California, April 4, 2015
On April 4, 2015 at about 6:31 pm local time, a 1972 Piper PA 28R-200, registered N5469T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Santa Maria, California (Santa Maria Public Airport.). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The engine failure due to oil starvation, which resulted from the installation of an unapproved oil quick drain valve that subsequently led to the inadvertent draining of the oil when the nose landing gear was retracted. Contributing to the accident was the lack of required warning placards on the engine mounts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2015 · about 6:31 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Maria, California · Santa Maria Public Airport. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-200 200, built 1972 · all PA 28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5469T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7235233
- 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, during climbout, while the airplane was about 3,500 ft mean sea level, the engine lost partial power. He then turned the airplane back toward the airport. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power, and the pilot chose to initiate a forced landing to a nearby field about 4 miles southeast of the airport. During postaccident examination of the engine, two cracks were observed on the upper portion of the engine crankcase near the No. 2 cylinder mounting surface. The crankshaft would not rotate by hand. Oil residue was observed on the left lower portion of the engine cowling and on the airplane's belly. A minimal amount of oil was observed in the oil filter and oil sump. Review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that an oil quick drain valve was installed on the engine 2 days before the accident. An aircraft manufacturer service letter (SL) and an airworthiness directive (AD) had been issued about 14 years before the accident to inform maintenance personnel about which oil quick drain valve should be installed on the accident make and model airplane. The SL provided a sketch of both the incorrect and correct oil quick drain valves, and the AD provided the approved part number. Examination of the engine revealed that the incorrect oil quick drain valve was installed on the engine. When the nose landing gear (NLG) assembly was actuated into its up-and-locked position, the bolt connecting the NLG assembly struck the oil quick drain valve, and several impact marks were present. It is likely that this damage resulted in the loss of oil and subsequent oil starvation to the engine. The AD also required that two warning placards be installed, one on each side of the engine mounts, stating that unapproved oil quick drain valves can cause inadvertent draining when the gear is retracted and to use only the manufacturer-approved part to prevent the loss of oil due to the installation of an incorrect oil quick drain valve. No placards were observed on the engine mounts.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Unauthorized maint/repair › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Placards and markings › (general) › Not installed/available
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,850 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 10, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,819.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 1,725 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 6:20 pm
- Destination: SMX Santa Maria CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from SMX, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on November 24, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Airworthiness Directive | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Piper Service Letter 534A | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Piper Service Letter 910 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Invoice of Installed Oil Drain Valve | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.