Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Avalon, California, May 20, 1984
On May 20, 1984 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N30298, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avalon, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- May 20, 1984 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Avalon, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N30298 · registry record · serial 7885084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT FLEW TO CATALINA ISLAND, THEN FLEW NORTHWEST ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND. HE STATED THAT HE THEN MADE A CLIMBING LEFT TURN OVER THE ISLAND FROM ABOUT 500 FT MSL, BUT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AT 1000 FT MSL, WHICH SLOWED THE ACFT BELOW THE AUTOMATIC GEAR LOWERING SPEED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AT ABOUT 1400 FT MSL. GROUND WITNESS REPORTED THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW OVER THE GROUND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 555 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 546 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,721 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1984; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 6:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.