Piper PA-38-112 accident near Joshua Tree, California, August 30, 2003
On August 30, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2318L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Joshua Tree, California (Hi Desert airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Joshua Tree, California · Hi Desert · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2318L · registry record · serial 38-79A0724
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane veered off the runway during the takeoff roll and collided with a berm. The student was on his first solo flight. After flying with his instructor for 3 hours, he attempted solo pattern work. A full takeoff and landing sequence was completed successfully. During the second takeoff, after reaching rotation speed he "looked up," and the airplane had drifted off centerline. It continued off the runway and encountered a berm, which launched it airborne. The airplane stalled about 10 feet above ground level. The nose collided with the ground, the engine detached, and the airplane came to rest inverted.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L80 Joshua Tree CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KPSP
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.