Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Pacoima, California, October 25, 2003
On October 25, 2003 at about 10:32 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N15192, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacoima, California (Whiteman Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glide path on final approach and his failure to ensure adequate clearance from obstacles. The dark night was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2003 · about 10:32 am local time
- Place
- Pacoima, California · Whiteman Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N15192 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7335034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a 50-foot-tall power line pole during a VFR approach into the airport at night. The pilot departed and manuevered over a nearby area. When he was returning to the airport, about 10 miles away, all of the lights were functioning. Approximately 1 1/2 miles from the airport he could only see the taxiway lighting. The airplane then impacted a power line pole. An airport employee working the night and early morning shift was in an airport vehicle doing a check of the airport when the accident occurred and he stated that the airport lights were on and functioning properly. Airport checklists were reviewed and indicated that the with the exception of a couple of burned out lights, the airport lighting was operational. The airplane impacted the power line pole about 50 feet above ground level. The location of the pole was about 1 mile from the runway.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,379 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,917 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 28, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2003; 563.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-CIC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KWHP Pacoima CA at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,120 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 am from KVNY, 5 miles away
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.