Piper PA-38-112 accident near Mendota, California, January 20, 1984
On January 20, 1984 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2492P, was destroyed in an accident near Mendota, California. 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
- January 20, 1984 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mendota, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2492P · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A1008
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TRACTOR WHILE THE PLT WAS MAKING A LOW PASS OVER SOME WORKERS IN A TOMATO FIELD. THE PLT SAID HE WAS RETURNING THE RENTED ACFT WHEN HE DECIDED TO MAKE A FINAL CHECK ON THE FIELD WORKERS BEFORE DEPARTING FOR THE DAY. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION NOR COULD THE PLT RECALL ANY.
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: 102 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,085 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 1983; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Johnson Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: Mendota CA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: FCH Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.