Piper PA-32-301T accident near San Marcos, California, September 6, 1983
On September 6, 1983 at about 7:26 am local time, a Piper PA-32-301T, registered N8196J, was destroyed in an accident near San Marcos, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- September 6, 1983 · about 7:26 am local time
- Place
- San Marcos, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301T · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8196J · no longer on the register · serial 8024013
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT APRX 2209 PDT, THE PLT DEPARTED FRESNO, CA ON A NIGHT, VFR, X-COUNTRY FLT. HE CANCELLED HIS VFR FLT PLAN AT 0009 PDT & LANDED AT RAMONA, CA AT 0012. AFTER LANDING, HE CALLED HIS WIFE TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE WX AT PALOMAR, CA. SHE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW & REPORTED THAT SHE COULD SEE STARS. THE PLT THEN TOOK OFF AT APRX 0017 FOR A 23 MI FLT. APRX 15 MI WEST OF RAMONA, THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE SIDE OF A HILL IN A GROVE OF AVOCAD TREES AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1000 FT MSL. ACCORDING TO LOCAL RESIDENTS, THE WX WAS FOGGY WITH APRX 1/2 MI VISIBILITY, THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 300 FT, THE WIND WAS CALM & THE TEMP WAS 56 DEG. REPORTEDLY, THE FOG HAD BEEN IN THE VALLEY FOR 2 TO 3 HRS. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE & WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT STRUCTURAL FAILURE OR LOSS OF POWER.
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; instructor: gyroplane
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,388 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 10:09 pm
- Destination: CNM Carlsbad CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded at 300 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.