Piper PA-28-201T accident near Stockton, California, May 4, 1989
On May 4, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-201T, registered N8133A, was destroyed in an accident near Stockton, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO PERFORM AEROBATICS WHICH RESULTED IN THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE BEING EXCEEDED DUE TO EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS AND THE AIRPLANE'S ABILITY, AND HIS LACK OF AEROBATIC FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stockton, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-201T · all PA-28-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8133A · no longer on the register · serial 28-7921056
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE MIGHT TRY TO ROLL HIS AIRPLANE DURING HIS RETURN FLIGHT HOME. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING VFR RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES WHILE CRUISING BETWEEN 8,400 AND 8,600 FT. AT 1629:23 THE AIRPLANE'S TRANSPONDER INDICATED IT WAS AT 8,600 FT. 12 SECS LATER IT WAS AT 7,800 FT, AND THEN 4 SECS LATER THE CONTROLLER HEARD AN ELT. AT 1629:45 THE CONTROLLER HEARD A MAYDAY AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE DESCENDING IN A 60-90 DEG NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. BOTH WINGS, VERTICAL STABILIZER, RUDDER, AND STABILATOR SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. NO RECORD OF THE PILOT RECEIVING AEROBATIC INSTRUCTION.
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: 498 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 419 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 627 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1988; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 10:35 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from SCK, 15 miles away
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.
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.