Piper PA-32-300 accident near Hayward, California, February 16, 1985
On February 16, 1985 at about 11:19 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4186W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward Air Terminal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- February 16, 1985 · about 11:19 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4186W · no longer on the register · serial 32-40270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) & STUDENT WERE PRACTICING LANDINGS, THE ENG LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OF THE 4TH TOUCH-&-GO AT APRX 30 TO 40 FT AGL. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT & ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE REMAINING RWY. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RWY & COLLIDED WITH A FENCE BEFORE COMING TO REST ON A GOLF COURSE. DURING SUBSEQUENT EXAM & ENG TESTS, NO REASON COULD BE FOUND FOR THE LOSS OF POWER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,380 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 1,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,252 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1984; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWD at 10:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,536 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 pm from HWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.