Piper PA-24-250 accident near Springville, California, September 17, 1988
On September 17, 1988 at about 1:32 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N604MM, was destroyed in an accident near Springville, California (Sequoia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT IN EXECUTING THE SECOND LOW PASS AND FAILED TO FOLLOW NORMAL V.F.R. GO-AROUND PROCEDURES. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED DURING THE RAPID PITCH-UP MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1988 · about 1:32 am local time
- Place
- Springville, California · Sequoia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N604MM · registry record · serial 24-1142
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE AIRPORT WAS LOCATED IN A VALLEY SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN; THE HIGHEST MTN PEAKS WERE LOCATED TO THE EAST & WEST OF THE NORTH/SOUTH (36/18) RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE ARPT FROM THE SOUTH AND THE PILOT MADE A LOW PASS OVER RUNWAY 36 AS WAS CUSTOMARY TO INSURE THAT NO LIVESTOCK WERE ON THE RUNWAY. AFTER COMPLETING THE LOW PASS, THE PLT CLIMBED STRAIGHT AHEAD BEYOND THE RISING TERRAIN, THEN ENTERED LEFT TRAFFIC. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTEDTHAT THE AIRPLANE MADE ANOTHER LOW PASS OVER THE RUNWAY. AT THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A SHARP CLIMBING TURN, BUT AFTER ABOUT 90 DEG OF TURN, IT CRASHED ON RISING TERRAIN, ABOUT 1/4 MI NORTHWEST FROM THE CENTER OF THE AIRPORT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSEDOWN ATTITUDE. NO PREEXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,150 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.