Piper PA-38-112 accident near San Martin, California, April 9, 2004
On April 9, 2004 at about 8:19 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25645, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Martin, California (So County Airport/Santa Clara). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2004 · about 8:19 pm local time
- Place
- San Martin, California · So County Airport/Santa Clara · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N25645 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0034
- 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 fence during a forced landing due to loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. The airplane had not been flown for about 6 weeks. The owner and pilot completed a thorough preflight inspection of the airplane, with special attention to the fuel samples. The pilot was unable to remember when the airplane's fuel tanks were last filled, but opined that it was also nearly 6 weeks previous. The pilot reported the quantity of the fuel tanks as more than 1/2 full, and the fuel samples were clear of water and debris. The pilot operated the engine for about 20 minutes, and then performed before takeoff checks. The pilot stated that all engine and fuel system indications were normal. During initial climb after takeoff, the airplane's engine experienced a loss of power, resulting in a forced landing. During recovery of the airplane, fuel was found in one tank, the other tank had ruptured with evidence of fuel spillage on the ground underneath.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 2,200 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2003; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E16 San Martin CA at 9:19 pm
- Destination: E16 San Martin CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from RHV, 18 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.