Piper PA-28-140 accident near Agua Dulce, California, July 16, 1988
On July 16, 1988 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N33043, was substantially damaged in an accident near Agua Dulce, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 16, 1988 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Agua Dulce, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N33043 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7525143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM A 2,900 FT MSL ELEVATION AIRPORT WHEN THE OBSERVED UNOFFICIAL OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS A REPORTED 105 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ALTHOUGH NO EXACT PRESSURE ALTITUDE WAS AVAILABLE AN APPROXIMATE DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 6,300 WAS DERIVED FROM THE TEMPERATURE AND ASSUMED PRESSURE ALTITUDE. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE SELECTED 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS FOR UPHILL TAKEOFF, AND, AFTER LIFTOFF, REDUCED THE FLAPS TO 10 DEGREES. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED OUT TOWARD RISING TERRAIN THE PILOT SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CLIMBING SUFFICIENTLY AND HE ELECTED TO TURN DOWN A CANYON TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A MODERATE SIZED BUSH ON THE TOP OF A RIDGE AND THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE GROUND COLLISION.
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: 1,100 hours in all; 1,070 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 1,069 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,345 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1987; 177 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L70 at 7:00 pm
- Destination: DAG Barstow CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°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.