Piper PA28-236 accident near Porterville, California, March 31, 1985
On March 31, 1985 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Piper PA28-236, registered N43504, was substantially damaged in an accident near Porterville, California (Porterville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- March 31, 1985 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Porterville, California · Porterville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-236 · all PA28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N43504 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8411015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 30 AT PORTERVILLE ARPT, AND AS THE ACFT FLARED FOR LANDING, THE LEFT WHEEL AND LEFT WING TOUCHED THE RWY, AND THE ACFT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR, STALLED, AND CRASHED JUST LEFT OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED, 'A GUST OF WIND PITCHED THE NOSE UP, I APPLIED FULL POWER BUT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE NOSE STAYED HIGH AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A LEFT WING LOW ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE AIR, THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND, COMING TO REST IN THE GRASS OFF THE RUNWAY.'
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: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,270 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 1985; 531 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Destination: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 6,000 ft by 146 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from VIS, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N43504 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.