Hayward Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hayward, California 94541
Wednesday, December 10, 1986 18:32 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A PIPER PA-28-235 COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK AFTER A LOSS OF POWER WHILE ON A NIGHT VFR PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE PLT INDICATED THAT APRX 3 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CRUISING AT 1,400 FT MSL THE ENGINE RPM ABRUPTLY DECREASED TO IDLE. THE FUEL SELECTOR CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TIP TANK POSITION AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE LEFT TIP TANK WAS EMPTY. THE OPERATORS MANUAL FOR THE ACFT STATES 'FOR ALL OPERATIONS THE TIP TANKS SHOULD BE USED LAST. WHEN USING LESS THAN THE STANDARD 84 GAL CAPACITY OF THE TANKS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THE TIP TANKS BE FILLED FIRST AND THEN REGULATE THE FUEL LOAD BY VARYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE INBOARD TANKS.' THE PLT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS 30-35 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT THE LAST TAKEOFF. THE CAPACITY OF THE TWO MAIN INBOARD TANKS IS 25 GALS EACH. THE TIP TANKS HOLD 17 GALS EACH. THE PLT INDICATED IN HIS STATEMENT THAT DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS FILLED TO THE FILLER NECK WHILE THE RIGHT MAIN TANK WAS BELOW THE TAB.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/10/1986
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1832
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City HAYWARD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94541
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HAYWARD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HWD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1845 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID HWD
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2340
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 10 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32993
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 5:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1429H
NTSB Number LAX87LA062
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-235
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-235
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7710001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 4 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 1119
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CURBY, TERRY L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20165 TARAWILD COURT
Aircraft Owner City SALINAS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93907
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR TRAILS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 280 MORTENSEN
Operator City SALINAS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93905
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OAK
Departure City OAKLAND
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SNS
Destination City SALINAS
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 --