Piper PA-38 accident near Lincoln, California, July 4, 1986
On July 4, 1986 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N91360, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, California (Lincoln Muni 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
- July 4, 1986 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, California · Lincoln Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N91360 · no longer on the register · serial 38-82A0015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT INDICATED THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. HE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 6.8 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT AND HE HAD FLOWN EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. AFTER TWO LANDINGS WITH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT ON THE SECOND SOLO TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON TOUCHDOWN AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. THE NOSE GEAR THEN COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST PARTIALLY OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF 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: student
- Flight time: 7 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,495 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 14, 1986; 37 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: 051 Lincoln CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MYV, 16 miles away
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.