Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Concord, California, October 14, 1985
On October 14, 1985 at about 2:48 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N47340, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, California (Buchanan Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- October 14, 1985 · about 2:48 am local time
- Place
- Concord, California · Buchanan Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N47340 · registry record · serial 28R-7703359
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS LANDING AT NIGHT AT THE CONCLUSION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLT. ON ENTRY TO THE DOWNWIND FOR FWY 19R, THE PLT ASKED THAT THE APPROACH LIGHTS BE TURNED UP FULL BRIGHT. ON SHORT FINAL, THE PLT SAID SHE ENCOUNTED EXCESSIVE GLARE IN HER CONTACT LENSES FROM THE APPROACH LIGHTS WHICH DISTRACTED HER. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, COLLIDING WITH BOTH THE APPROACH LIGHTS AND AN AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE.
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: 182 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 111 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,658 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1985; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-360-FBI (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Navajo Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,712 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from CCR
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.
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.