Piper PA-38-112 accident near Fallbrook, California, April 30, 1986
On April 30, 1986, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25954, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fallbrook, California (Fall Brook Comm Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- April 30, 1986
- Place
- Fallbrook, California · Fall Brook Comm Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N25954 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-38-112 VEERED OFF RWY 36. THE WX REPORTING STATION LOCATED 6 NM SE OF THE ARPT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 180 DEG AT 7 KTS DURING THE PERIOD THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE MISINTERPRETED THE ARPT WIND INDICATOR AND LANDED DOWNWIND AND SUBSEQUENTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID OVERRUNNING THE RWY. THE PLT ALSO INDICATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. RWY 36 WAS 2,160 FT LONG. ACCORDING TO THE TOMOHAWK (PA-38-112) INFORMATION MANUAL PUBLISHED BY PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION, THE MINIMUM LANDING GROUND ROLL FOR THE REPORTED WX CONDITION IS AT LEAST 1,000 FT. A WITNESS WHO IS EMPLOYED AT A FBO LOCATED AT THE ARPT OBSERVED THE ACFT TOUCHDOWN 'APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF THE DISTANCE DOWN 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 192 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 107 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,569 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1986; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 11:32 pm
- Destination: L18 Fallbrook CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,160 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.