Calexico Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Calexico, California 92231
Sunday, September 4, 1983 16:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO MISS AT APRX 300 FT AGL & HE FELT A DEFINITE LOSS OF POWER. HE TRIED TO RAISE THE GEAR, BUT THE AIRSPEED WAS BELOW THE AUTOMATIC GEAR EXTENSTION SPEED, SO THE GEAR DID NOT RETRACT. HE REPOSITIONED THE GEAR HANDLE TO THE DOWN POSITON & THE WARNING HORN, WHICH HAD SOUNDED, STOPPED. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO FLY THE ACFT OVER SOME WIRES, BUT COULD NOT GET THE ACFT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A LANDING IN A SOFT FARM FIELD. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AT A UNION JOINT IN THE LINE FROM THE LEFT WING. NO OTHER PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. HOWEVER, THE GROSS WEIGHT WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN APRX 87 LBS OVER THE MAX LIMIT. ALSO, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APRX 3500 FT (TEMP ABOUT 110 DEG).

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/4/1983
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CALEXICO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92231
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CALEXICO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CYL
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 290
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1600 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID IPL
Elevation of weather observation facility 43
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 43
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 3500
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 828
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21035
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56283
NTSB Number LAX83FA422
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 7335-399
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 4649
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MR. LEON J. FELCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6654 LEWIS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City VACAVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95688
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1644
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LHU
Destination City LAKE HAVASUE
Destination State AZ
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 26
Runway Length 4330
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --