Piper PA28R-200 accident near Redlands, California, March 20, 2002
On March 20, 2002, a Piper PA28R-200, registered N5060T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands Municipal 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 failed to compensate for the wind condtions when he encountered an updraft followed by a downdraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2002
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R-200 · all PA28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5060T · registry record · serial 28R-7235187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane made a hard landing resulting in damage to a wing rib. The pilot was preparing for a certified flight instructor check ride. On the fifth landing, the pilot encountered a strong updraft about 15 feet above ground level (agl), and pulled power. This was immediately followed by a downdraft. The airplane touched down hard on the right main landing gear. The pilot completed two more landings and returned to Palm Springs. A follow-up maintenance examination discovered damage to a wing rib. The Safety Board was informed of the accident on April 8, 2002.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 315 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 256 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 22, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 340 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,313 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 16, 2002; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: L12 Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,505 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from RAL, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.