Piper PA-23-160 accident near Anza, California, March 14, 2001
On March 14, 2001 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N333PE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anza, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane following the opening of the cockpit/cabin door. The door came open because of improperly installed upholstery, which resulted in the inability to lock the door.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2001 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Anza, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N333PE · no longer on the register · serial 2007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The cabin door opened in cruise flight and the private pilot subsequently lost control of the twin-engine airplane. The airplane entered a descending right turn, and when ground impact was imminent, the pilot shut down the engines and feathered the propellers. The airplane then impacted the ground in a field. According to FAA inspectors, the door would not lock due to improperly installed upholstery. The pilot/owner reported he did not get a certificated mechanic to inspect and sign off on the upholstery modification.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 5, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2000; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L18 Fallbrook CA at 5:50 pm
- Destination: A20 Fort Mohave AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KRAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.