Piper PA-28 accident near Fair Oaks, California, April 28, 1984
On April 28, 1984 at about 3:15 am local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N81784, was destroyed in an accident near Fair Oaks, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 28, 1984 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Fair Oaks, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N81784 · no longer on the register · serial 8090189
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE DEPARTING ON A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT WAS WARNED TO REFUEL MIDWAY ON HIS ROUTE. HE RECALCULATED HIS FUEL WHILE EN ROUTE & THOUGHT SUFFICIENT FUEL WAS REMAINING. DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT ACTIVATED THE RWY LIGHTS, BUT DID NOT SEE THEM UNTIL HE WAS NEARLY OVER THE ARPT AT 1500 FT. HE TRIED TO DESCEND & LAND, BUT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE RWY. HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO MANEUVER & LAND; HOWEVER, THE ENG, WHICH HAD START TO LOSE POWER, QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PLT THEN STARTED TO LAND ON A STREET, BUT THERE WAS TRAFFIC, SO HE LANDED BETWEEN THE STREET & THE HOUSE. AN AUTO WAS STRUCK AS THE ACFT CAME TO A STOP. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE ENG HAD LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 461 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 357 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,069 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1984; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: OLL Fair Oaks CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.