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Atlas / NTSB / LAX86LA056

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX86LA056

1985-12-05 SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, United States Airport · SDL Minor 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

WHILE DESCENDING FROM 9,500 TO 5,000 FT MSL, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG & MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT A NEARBY ARPT. THE PLT, WHO HAD ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR THE 8,251 FOOT LONG RWY, MISJUDGED HIS APPROACH, LANDED DIAGONALLY TO THE RWY, COLLIDED WITH A DITCH & NOSED OVER. THE ACFT WAS TESTED FOLLOWING ITS RECOVERY AND ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE NON-MECHANICAL COMPLETE PWR LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BFR & HAD A TOTAL OF 13.2 HOURS IN THIS AIRCRAFT, WHICH HE HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_LAX86LA056.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.