Piper PA-38-112 accident near Compton, California, January 13, 1985
On January 13, 1985 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9755T, was destroyed in an accident near Compton, California (Compton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 13, 1985 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Compton, California · Compton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9755T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78AO187
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE STUDENT PLT WAS ABOUT TO TOUCHDOWN ON RWY 25L THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT. HE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND & IN ORDER TO AVOID PARKED ACFT TO THE SOUTH OF THE ADJACENT TAXIWAY HE APPLIED AFT ELEVATOR & STALLED THE ACFT, LANDING UPON & DESTROYING TWO OTHER ACFT & SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGING A THIRD. THE WIND WAS CALM 6 MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT THE WIND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS FROM THE NORTH & BLEW THE ACFT TO THE LEFT. THE PLT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED NO DOCUMENTED GO-AROUND PRACTICE.
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: 54 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 57,322 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 1984; 2,122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CMP Compton CA
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 0, 3,670 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from LGB, 6 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.