Piper PA-28-151 accident near Corona, California, May 19, 1984
On May 19, 1984 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N5387F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California (Corona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- May 19, 1984 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N5387F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN ENG POWER FAILURE DURING TAKEOFF & COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE MANEUVERING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE 'TURNED RIGHT TRYING TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY,' & AT THE SAME TIME, 'MAINTAIN 80 (KTS IAS), BUT IT (THE ACFT) SUDDENLY DROPPED.' WHEN INTERVIEWED, THE PLT REPORTED THAT A NORMAL PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED & AT THAT TIME OBSERVED BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE AT A LEVEL OF '2 TO 3 INCHES BELOW THE TABS.' EXHAUSTIVE EXAMINATION OF ALL POWER-RELATED SYSTEMS FAILED TO REVEAL A COMPONENT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WHICHWOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE POWER FAILURE.
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: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,759 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 1984; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from CNO, 5 miles away
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.