NTSB LAX92LA200 — 1992-05-04 · MODESTO, California, United States

Aircraft involved

N2310B Piper PA23-150 None

Probable cause & findings

AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION.

Factual narrative

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 50 TO 100 FEET AGL IN THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT CORRECTED FOR THE YAW CONDITION AND HAD JUST RESTABILIZED THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE SURGED INTO LIFE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT AND IT IMPACTED GEAR UP IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE IN A GRASSY AREA BETWEEN THE RUNWAYS. FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING ON AN AUTOMOTIVE FUEL SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. A QUANTITY OF WATER AND RUST COLORED SEDIMENT WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK SUMP. NO OTHER SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_LAX92LA200.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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For spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO), contamination can occur from thruster fuel, sputter contamination products and from products of silicone degradation.