Piper PA-28-140 accident near Felton, California, April 25, 1985
On April 25, 1985 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N511FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Felton, California (Bonnydune airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- April 25, 1985 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Felton, California · Bonnydune · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N511FL · registry record · serial 287125334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE PREFLIGHT OF THE ACFT, THE PLT SAID HE OBSERVED THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT AS FROM THE NORTH AT ABOUT '5 TO 10 KTS, WHICH INDICATED A LEFT CROSSWIND. THE AIRPORT IS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDED BY PINE TREES WHICH AVERAGE ABOUT 60 FT IN HEIGHT. PLT SAID THAT HE WAS CLIMBING AT ABOUT '80 MPH' FOLLOWING A NORMAL SHORTFIELD TAKEOFF WHEN THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A 'VIOLENT DOWN DRAFT' AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE DOWNDEAFT ROLLED THE ACFT TO A 90 DEGREE LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE AND HE COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL PRIOR TO CONTACTING TREES OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. GROUND WITNESSES ON THE AIRPORT SAID THAT THE WINGS ON THE AIRPORT PROPER WERE 'ALMOST CALM', HOWEVER AT THE TREE TOP LEVEL WERE FROM THE LEFT AT '10 KTS WITH GUST TO 15 KTS.
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: 350 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 249 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:30 am
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.