Piper PA-32-300 accident near Fallbrook, California, December 31, 1999
On December 31, 1999 at about 2:20 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N1412T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fallbrook, California (Fallbrook Community Airpa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudged altitude and distance during a night landing approach, which resulted in an undershoot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 1999 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Fallbrook, California · Fallbrook Community Airpa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N1412T · no longer on the register · serial 32-7240119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot intended to land at Oceanside, but diverted to Fallbrook, California, because of the weather. As the pilot turned onto the final approach course, he noted that the airplane was on the VASI (visual approach slope indicator) directed glide path, and completed the before landing checklist. He then noticed the VASI lights were red, indicating the airplane was below the proper glide path. He added full power and pulled up, then struck the ground about 20 feet short of the runway, separating the landing gear from the airplane. The pilot stated to FAA inspectors that he had misjudged the visual approach.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 682 hours in all; 84 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 428 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,996 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 23, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVO Corvalis OR
- Destination: L18
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,160 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 126°F (52°C), dew point 122°F (50°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from NFG, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.