Piper PA-32R-301T accident near San Diego, California, November 7, 1985
On November 7, 1985 at about 2:02 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N2512Y, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California (Lindbergh International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- November 7, 1985 · about 2:02 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Lindbergh International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2512Y · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8529020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT DEPARTED IN VFR CONDITIONS AFTER A WX BRIEFING WHICH INDICATED THAT CLEAR SKIES AND UNRESTRICTED VISIBILTY EXISTED AND WERE FORECASTED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. ON ARRIVAL THE PLT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLEARANCE FOR AN INSTRUMENT APCH. WHEN THE FLT WAS ON A 2-MI FINAL AT 2000 FT, THE CONTROLLER INITIATED A MISSED APCH. THE PLT RESPONDED AND THEN STATED THAT WE WOULD PREFER TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. A CLEARANCE WAS ISSUED AND THE RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 758 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 625 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 17, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:02 am from SAN, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.