Piper PA-28-161 accident near Temecula, California, September 2, 1988
On September 2, 1988 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4328Y, was destroyed in an accident near Temecula, California (Rancho California airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY INITIATE A GO-AROUND DURING AN ABORTED LANDING. THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, FAILURE TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY FOR THE ABORTED TAKEOFF, AND NOT ESTABLISHING THE PROPER RATE OF CLIMB DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS ARE CONSIDERED FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1988 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · Rancho California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4328Y · registry record · serial 288416024
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING HIS AIRCRAFT ON THE 3023 FOOT ASPHALT RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 635 FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND INITIATED AN ABORTED LANDING FROM THE OFF RUNWAY LOCATION. THE AIRCRAFT OVERFLEW ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AHEAD OF THE POINT WHERE THE ABORTED LANDING WAS INITIATED. THEN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A METAL LADDER ATTACHED TO 24 FOOT HIGH COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN HIS FLIGHT PATH.
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: 97 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,089 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 18, 1988; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D36 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Calstate Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 10:38 pm
- Destination: 2L0 Temecula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,023 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from RIV, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.