Piper PA-28-181 accident near Phelen, California, July 19, 1985
On July 19, 1985 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2640Q, was destroyed in an accident near Phelen, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- July 19, 1985 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Phelen, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2640Q · no longer on the register · serial 287790410
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES BEFORE TAKEOFF, THAT CAUTIONED OF LOWERING CEILINGS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG HIS PROPOSED FLT ROUTE, THE PLT TOOK OFF UNDER VFR. A FLT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. AS THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ITS CRUISE ALT OF 11500 FT, AN ARTC CONTROLLER, THAT WAS PROVIDING THE PLT WITH TRAFFIC ADVISORIES, ADVISED THE PLT THAT A BOEING 737 AHEAD OF HIS POSITION AND AT 12000 FT WAS REPORTING MODERATE HAIL AND TURBULENCE. THE CONTROLLER AND BOTH ACFT WERE ON THE SAME FREQUENCY. WHEN THE PA-28 REACHED THE LIMITS OF THE SECTOR IN WHICH IT WAS FLYING, THE CONTROLLER TERMINATED THE ADVISORY SERVICE. APRX 6 MINUTES LATER A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE PA-28, WITH ONLY ONE WING ATTACHED, SPIN OUT OF THE OVERCAST AND IMPACT A MOUNTAIN RIDGE.
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: 237 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,868 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 1983; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 7:40 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from VCV, 17 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.