Piper PA 28-151 accident near Lebec, California, November 18, 1985
On November 18, 1985 at about 3:55 am local time, a Piper PA 28-151, registered N43602, was destroyed in an accident near Lebec, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 18, 1985 · about 3:55 am local time
- Place
- Lebec, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-151 · all PA 28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N43602 · no longer on the register · serial 287415535
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING A PREFLIGHT WX BRIEFING THAT FORECAST STRONG HEADWINDS, OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, SEVERE TURBULENCE AND PIREPS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE ON THE PROPOSED FLT ROUTE. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT AND HIS STUDENT INSTRUMENT PLT TOOK OFF FOR A NIGHT IFR TRAINING FLT. THE ACFT ENTERED A MOUNTAIN WAVE AND DESCENDED INTO A MOUNTAIN. ALTHOUGH ANOTHER ACFT IN THE AREA SUGGESTED THE DESCENDING ACFT MAKE A 180 TURN THERE WAS NO EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE PLT TO MANEUVER THE ACFT OUT OF THE WAVE OR THE ARTCC CONTROLLER TO DIRECT THE ACFT TO REVERSE COURSE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 2:30 am
- Destination: BFL Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.