Piper PA-32-260 accident near Fullerton, California, September 23, 1988
On September 23, 1988 at about 1:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3451W, was destroyed in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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 PREFLIGHT THE ACFT FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT ALSO FAILED TO ABOUT THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1988 · about 1:36 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3451W · no longer on the register · serial 32319
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-32-260, THAT HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO A MODEL PA-32-300 BY EXCHANGING THE ENGINE, TAXIED TO THE END OF A 3121 FOOT RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF WITH CALM WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT LOAD CONSISTED OF FULL FUEL TANKS, PILOT AND PASSENGER, AND 30 POUNDS OF LUGGAGE. A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL APPROXIMATELY 2850 FEET BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON A FLAT ROOF OF A COMMERICAL BUILDING, COLLIDED WITH THE PARAPET AND CRASHED INTO THE STREET BELOW. THE POST CRASH ENGINE EXAM REVEALED RUST PARTICLES AND WATER THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,375 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1988; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIA5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Club Of Fullerton
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 1:36 pm
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:46 pm from SNA, 11 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.