Piper PA-32-300 accident near Oxnard, California, January 19, 1984
On January 19, 1984 at about 5:42 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4012R, was destroyed in an accident near Oxnard, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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 19, 1984 · about 5:42 am local time
- Place
- Oxnard, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4012R · no longer on the register · serial 32-40486
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH IRRIGATION PIPES WHICH CRISS-CROSSED A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING A NIGHT CRUISE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION AND NOFUEL WAS IN THE LINES FROM THE SPIDER TO THE CYLINDERS.
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: 238 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1983; 2,252 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OXR Oxnard CA at 5:28 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 am from NTD, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.