Piper PA-28-140 accident near Live Oak, California, April 24, 1982
On April 24, 1982 at about 2:10 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N7060R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Live Oak, California (Sutter Butte Dusters airport). It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1982 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Live Oak, California · Sutter Butte Dusters
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7060R · no longer on the register · serial 21760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS INDORSED TO FLY SOLO IN THE PIPER PA-38 AIRCRAFT, BUT REPORTED NO PREVIOUS FLIGHT TIME IN A PIPER PA-28. REPORTEDLY, HE TOOK OFF TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE STUDENT STATED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED AFTER THE FOURTH LANDING AND PULLED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD A DITCH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE DITCH. THE STUDENT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT BRAKE.
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: student
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 17 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,024 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Live Oak CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Live Oak CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 145°F (63°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.