Piper PA-32-300 accident near Baker, California, May 5, 1985
On May 5, 1985 at about 2:46 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N15259, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baker, California (Halloran Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- May 5, 1985 · about 2:46 am local time
- Place
- Baker, California · Halloran Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N15259 · no longer on the register · serial 32-7340026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT BECAME LOST ON A DAYLIGHT VFR FLT AND WAS UNABLE, BECAUSE OF HER LOW ALTITUDE, TO RECEIVE ANY NAV RADIO AIDS OR ESTABLISH RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. BECAUSE OF APCH DARKNESS AND A LOW FUEL STATE SHE ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A DIRT STRIP. THE DIRT STRIP HAD SO FT SAND SHOULDERS. ON TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS 3 FT LEFT OF THE PACKED DIRT, IN THE SOFT SAND. IT SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT STRUCTURE. PLT REPORTED NO ACFT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 118 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,173 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1984; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,400 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from DAG, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N15259 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.