Piper PA-38-112 accident near Reedley, California, May 16, 1988
On May 16, 1988 at about 6:22 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N23415, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reedley, California (Reedley Muni. airport). It was a business 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
- May 16, 1988 · about 6:22 pm local time
- Place
- Reedley, California · Reedley Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N23415 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 800 FEET AGL AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE THEN 'QUIT AND RESTART(ED)' SEVERAL TIMES. HE SAID THAT INSUFFICIENT POWER WAS AVAILABLE TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AND HE ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN A TREE COVERED FIELD NEAR THE AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT EACH FUEL TANK HAD ABOUT 6 GALLONS OF FUEL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE TEMPERATURE AT FRESNO, CA, WHICH IS LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF REEDLEY, CA, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 67 DEGREES AND THE DEW POINT WAS 48 DEGREES. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,253 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 3,693 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,617 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 10, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O32 at 6:20 pm
- Destination: Q60 Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N23415 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.