Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Upland, California, January 1, 1983
On January 1, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N3084R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Upland, California (Cable airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- January 1, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N3084R · no longer on the register · serial 28R35643
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED 150 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY DURING LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE KEPT FALLING AS HE PROGRESSED AROUND THE FIELD IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE ON THE BASE LEG. THE PILOT HAD LOWERED THE GEAR BUT NOT THE FLAPS. WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THE RUNWAY WOULD NOT BE REACHED HE PICKED A LANDING SPOT AND LOWERED THE FLAPS. THE ROUGH AREA OF LANDING TORE OFF THE LANDING GEAR AND SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL SPRING STUD ASSEMBLY NUT WAS MISSING WITH THE STUD DETACHED FROM THE THROTTLE. THE STUD WAS PLACED IN POSITION ON THE THROTTLE ARM AND FELL AWAY AFTER ABOUT 15 CYCLES OF THROTTLE ACTUATION FROM THE COCKPIT. THE ENGINE HAD JUST BEEN OVERHAULED AND INSTALLED, AND AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON DECEMBER 11, 1982. TOTAL TIME SINCE WAS ABOUT 10 HOURS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 376 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 229 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 1982; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,785 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.