Piper PA-28-140 accident near Big Pine, California, October 22, 1988
On October 22, 1988 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N140RM, was destroyed in an accident near Big Pine, California. 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'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1988 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Big Pine, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N140RM · registry record · serial 28-7125229
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PLANNED A X-C FLIGHT FM RED BLUFF, CA, TO MESA, AZ, WITH AN INTERMEDIATE REFUELING STOP AT BISHOP, CA. AT BISHOP THE PLT TOPPED OFF THE FUEL TANKS & DEPARTED SOUTH DOWN THE OWENS VALLEY. A CFI OBSERVED THE ACFT'S DOWNWIND DEPARTURE & NOTED THAT THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING AT 100 FT/MIN. AFTER FLYING FOR SEVERAL MILES, THE PLT TURNED TOWARD AN AREA OF DECEPTIVELY SLOW RISING TERRAIN OF A MOUNTAIN PASS. THE PLT ENTERED THE PASS AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE ROAD'S ELEVATION INCREASED & ITS DIRECTION BEGAN SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH. THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED UPON COLLIDING WITH THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN, 150 FEET ABOVE THE HIGHWAY. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS OVER 9000 FT.
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: 900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1987; 720 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BIH Bishop CA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°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.