Piper PA-28-235 accident near Camarillo, California, September 8, 1988
On September 8, 1988 at about 4:25 am local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8743W, was destroyed in an accident near Camarillo, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DECIDED TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN ELECTRICAL DEFICIENCY DURING NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO CONDUCT A FLIGHT OPERATION IN WHICH HE WAS NOT CERTIFIED. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1988 · about 4:25 am local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8743W · no longer on the register · serial 10283
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 343 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 343 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,982 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 1988; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 4:24 am
- Destination: Q40 Elk Grove CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 am from OXR, 6 miles away
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.