Piper PA-32-300 accident near Riverside, California, August 25, 1986
On August 25, 1986 at about 11:45 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4083R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riverside, California (Riverside airport). It was a positioning 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
- August 25, 1986 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Riverside · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4083R · registry record · serial 32-40399
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO HAWTHORNE AIRPORT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. DURING A CIRCLING DESCENT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN 500 FT SHORT OF RWY 27 AT RIVERSIDE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT MAIN WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED THAT THE MAIN TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THE OUTBOARD TANKS CONTAINED 10 GALLONS OF FUEL EACH.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,376 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 336 in the last 90 days; 104 in the last 30 days; 1,341 as pilot in command; 720 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,650 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 13, 1986; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ at 8:30 am
- Destination: HHR Hawthorne CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.