Piper PA-23-160 accident near Upland, California, June 29, 1986
On June 29, 1986 at about 2:20 am local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N17278, was substantially damaged in an accident near Upland, California (Cable airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 29, 1986 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N17278 · no longer on the register · serial 23-1615
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING SINGLE ENGINE PROCEDURES AND HE FORGOT TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. ANOTHER PLT ALERTED HIM ON THE RADIO AND HE ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE GEAR BUT LANDED WITH THE GEAR ONLY PARTIALLY EXTENDED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE CHOSE TO LAND ON THE TAXIWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THREE UNOCCUPIED PARKED ACFT.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,165 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,037 as pilot in command; 180 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1985; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,785 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.