Piper PA24-250 accident near Elsinore, California, May 22, 1983
On May 22, 1983 at about 1:10 am local time, a Piper PA24-250, registered N4347B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elsinore, California (Skylark airport). 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 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
- May 22, 1983 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Elsinore, California · Skylark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24-250 · all PA24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N4347B · no longer on the register · serial 24-558
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND A DIRT BANK SHORT OF THE RWY DURING LANDING AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A DIRT RWY BUT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE LAKE LOCATED AT THE DEPARTURE END. HE SAID HIS AIRSPEED WAS 70 KTS ON SHORT FINAL WITH FULL FLAPS AND RPM. THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN ON A DIRT ROAD THAT CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR TOWARD THE RWY. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR HIT A DIRT RIDGE AT THE THRESHOLD AND SHEARED OFF. DURING THE LANDING ON THE RWY THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN RETRACTED INTO THEIR WHEEL WELLS. THE ACFT CAME TO REST 120 FT DOWN THE RWY WITH THE NOSE POINTING ABOUT 20 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE.
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
- Flight time: 202 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 186 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1982; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,830 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.