Piper PA-32-260 accident near Riverside, California, November 4, 1983
On November 4, 1983 at about 3:35 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N15039, was destroyed in an accident near Riverside, California (Riverside Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- November 4, 1983 · about 3:35 am local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Riverside Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N15039 · no longer on the register · serial 32-7300001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE THE PLT RADIOED IN THAT HE HAD BLOWN A ROD 'OR SOMETHING' AND WAS ABOUT TWO MILES OUT ON A RIGHT BASE LEG. HE THEN INFORMED THE TOWER THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AFTER WHICH THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A POWER POLE AND THE ACFT EXPLODED ON IMPACT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED FOREIGN DEBRIS IN THE OIL PUMP AND THE NUMBER SIX CONNECTING ROD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. THE RESPECTIVE END CAP HAD COME APART FROM THE CONNECTING ROD.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,912 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RAL
- Destination: L35 Big Bear City CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:38 am from RAL, 2 miles away
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.