Piper PA-22-108 accident near Tehachapi, California, January 11, 2002
On January 11, 2002 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N4895Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tehachapi, California (Tehachapi Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering in an attempt to gain altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. The high density altitude was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 2002 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · Tehachapi Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N4895Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-8479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane stalled and descended to the ground while maneuvering to gain altitude shortly after takeoff. According to a sheriff's deputy, who witnessed the accident, the airplane departed runway 29, and barely cleared power lines during the initial climb. The airplane performed two 360-degree turns south of the airport and stalled, impacting in a field about 4,200 msl. The airport is located at 3,993 feet msl. Post accident examination by an FAA inspector determined that the fuel tanks were full at the time of departure. The density altitude was calculated about 5,000 feet msl. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's recommendation as to how the accident could have been prevented was taking off with less weight and at cooler temperatures.
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: 415 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 365 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2001; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TSP Tehachapi CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,035 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 9:46 pm from mhv, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.