Riverside Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Riverside, California 92509
Monday, August 25, 1986 3:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE TO HAWTHORNE AIRPORT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. DURING A CIRCLING DESCENT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN 500 FT SHORT OF RWY 27 AT RIVERSIDE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT MAIN WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED THAT THE MAIN TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THE OUTBOARD TANKS CONTAINED 10 GALLONS OF FUEL EACH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/1986
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 345
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City RIVERSIDE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92509
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RIVERSIDE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RAL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1112
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31454
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4083R
NTSB Number LAX86LA343
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-40399
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 13 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 5650
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GOLD COAST AIR INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 367
Aircraft Owner City HAWTHORNE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90250
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KENNETH W. GRIFFITH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 620 FREMONT
Operator City SOUTH PASADENA
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91030
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PHX
Departure City PHOENIX
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 130
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HHR
Destination City HAWTHORNE
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --