Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-32-260 N3451W

23 September 1988 · Fullerton, California, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 23 September 1988 at about 13:36 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3451W, operated by Aviation Club of Fullerton, was involved in an accident near Fullerton, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 13:36
Classification
Accident
Location
Fullerton, California, United States
Nearest airport
Fullerton Muni (FUL)
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Registration
N3451W
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Aviation Club of Fullerton
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Fullerton → Long Beach
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX88FA327

People

2 people were seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 2 0 0

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT THE ACFT FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT ALSO FAILED TO ABOUT THE TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-32-260, THAT HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO A MODEL PA-32-300 BY EXCHANGING THE ENGINE, TAXIED TO THE END OF A 3121 FOOT RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF WITH CALM WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT LOAD CONSISTED OF FULL FUEL TANKS, PILOT AND PASSENGER, AND 30 POUNDS OF LUGGAGE. A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL APPROXIMATELY 2850 FEET BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON A FLAT ROOF OF A COMMERICAL BUILDING, COLLIDED WITH THE PARAPET AND CRASHED INTO THE STREET BELOW. THE POST CRASH ENGINE EXAM REVEALED RUST PARTICLES AND WATER THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Jul 1988 Piper PA-32-300
N1954H
Akron, New York, United States REX Miller Flying Service No injuries -
27 May 1988 Piper PA-32-300
N30289
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States West Valley Flying Club No injuries -
23 Nov 1988 Piper PA-32-300
N4194W
Meadows of Dan, Virginia, United States Jerry M. Jones Fatal 1
18 May 1988 Piper PA-32-260
N897P
Skwentna, Alaska, United States - Fatal 3
24 Nov 1988 Piper PA-32-260
N3662W
Marquette, Michigan, United States Northern Airmotive Partners Serious injuries -
28 Jan 1988 Piper PA-32-260
N1246T
Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States - No injuries -

All 1,695 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Jan 1988 Colman BD-4
N49RC
Half Moon Bay, California, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
4 Oct 1988 Cessna 182A
N5888B
Visalia, California, United States - No injuries -
28 Apr 1988 Cessna 150F
N6742F
Hayfork, California, United States - No injuries -
25 Feb 1988 Beechcraft A36
N23536
Ramona, California, United States Lancer Engineering Minor injuries -
1 May 1988 Cessna 180B
N5104E
Quincy, California, United States - No injuries -
9 Jul 1988 Hiller UH-12D
N646JS
Winterhaven, California, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States