Piper PA-23 accident near Clovis, California, May 3, 1985
On May 3, 1985 at about 11:29 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N1461P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clovis, California (Fresno Air Terminal airport). It was a business 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
- May 3, 1985 · about 11:29 pm local time
- Place
- Clovis, California · Fresno Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N1461P · no longer on the register · serial 23-524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON INITIAL CLIMB, AT 400 FT AGL, THE ACFT'S RT ENGINE LOST FUEL PRESSURE. THEN ALL RIGHT ENGIE POWER WAS LOST. THE LT ENG CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE PLT FAILED TO FEATHER THE RT PROP & ALLOWED THE ACFT TO SLOW TO THE POINT WHERE A MVC ROLL COMMENCED. HE THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING & A PARKING LOT. A POST-CRASH FIRE OCCURRED WHICH DESTROYED PORTIONS OF THE ACFT INCLUDING PORTIONS OF ITS FUEL SYSTEM THE STRUCTURES WHICH REMAINED WERE EXAMINED & NO DESCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. THE REASON FOR THE LOW RT ENGINE FUEL PRESSURE & ITS EVENTUAL TOTAL LOSS OF PWR WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 16, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:48 pm from FAT, 3 miles away
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.