Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Van Nuys, California, November 19, 1988
On November 19, 1988 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N4306M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- November 19, 1988 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4306M · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8331038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE DESCENDING FOR LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH A POLE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND BEHIND A KING AIR, ON RUNWAY 16R. THE PILOT STATED THAT ABOUT THE TIME HE DESCENDED TO 50 FEET AGL, NEAR THE THRESHOLD, HE ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED RIGHT BANK, WHICH TURNED HIM 90 DEGREES TO THE LANDING RUNWAY AND HE STRUCK A POLE. THE ACFT THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND OFF THE RUNWAY AND SLID INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHERE THE KING AIR TOUCHED DOWN, BUT THE PILOT STATED THAT THE KING AIR'S APPROACH LOOKED STEEP (GREATER THAN A 3 DEGREE GLIDE SLOPE). THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE A NORMAL APPROACH AND TRIED TO TOUCH DOWN ON THE THRESHOLD. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PIPER WAS ONLY A FEW SECONDS BEHIND THE LANDING KING AIR. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 832 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 643 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,105 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 10, 1988; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OXR Oxnard CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from VNY
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.