Oceano Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oceana, California 93445
Friday, April 15, 1983 11:14 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PLT, A MEXICAN NATIONAL, WAS ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT. HE REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT LOCATE THE DESTINATION ARPT AT SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. AFTER CIRCLING THE AREA, HE SAW THE OCEANA ARPT & STARTED TO LAND. WHILE ON FINAL APCH, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RESIDENTIAL TRAILER DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK & THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY. FUEL WAS STILL REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK. THE STUDENT HAD MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK ABOUT 1/2 HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF & HAD NOT CHANGED ITS POSITION AFTER THAT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/15/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1114
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City OCEANA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93445
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OCEANO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L52
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 290
Airport Elevation 14
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1100
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID SBP
Elevation of weather observation facility 208
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2783
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23078
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5985F
NTSB Number LAX83LA194
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-77225072
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 Mar 20 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 2886
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID PLUTT & JAMES BRITTAIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 303
Aircraft Owner City ROSEMEAD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91170
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code EMT
Departure City EL MONTE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SBP
Destination City SAN LUIS OBISPO
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 11
Runway Length 2270
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --