NTSB LAX84FA118 — 1983-12-28 · IRWINDALE, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N55665

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-235
Year of manufacture: 1973 · 10 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES (250 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19730515
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A718FD

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N55665 Piper PA28-235 None

Factual narrative

ACCORDING TO THE FLT INSTR THE ENG LOST PWR AFTER THE STU HAD COMPLETD VAROUS TURNING MANEUVERS. HE STATED THAT THE FUEL SEL WAS IN THE LEFT MAIN POSITION AND ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE 18 GALS IN THAT TANK, 25 GALS IN THE RIGHT TANK,5 GALS IN THE LEFT TIP TANK AND 1 GAL IN THE RIGHT TIP TANK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE TIP TANKS HAD PURPOSELY NOT BEEN REFUELED RECENTLY BECAUSE THE OWNERS WANTED TO BURN OFF WHAT WAS LEFT IN THEM IN ORDER TO SERVICE THEM. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE MAIN GEAR WERE SHEARED OFF AND THE TIP TANKS WERE RUPTURED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_LAX84FA118.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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