Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Coalinga, California, March 7, 2002
On March 7, 2002 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N800RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. The crosswind was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2002 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N800RC · registry record · serial 28R-30299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The landing gear collapsed after the airplane veered off the runway and into a plowed field during an aborted landing attempt. The pilot was landing with a left rudder correction for the existing crosswind. On initial touchdown, the airplane swerved off the left side of the runway. He added full power, and initiated an aborted landing. The pilot realized he would not be able to takeoff, closed the throttle, and went into a broccoli field. The encounter with the soft furrowed field collapsed the landing gear.
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: 396 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 368 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 14, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 2002; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0-36D-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCH Fresno CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 3O8 Coalinga CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from NLC, 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.