Piper PA-22-160 accident near El Cajon, California, June 19, 1989
On June 19, 1989 at about 4:10 am local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N8836D, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Cajon, California (Gillespie Fld. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE & INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE UNDETECTION OF CONTAMINATED FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1989 · about 4:10 am local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillespie Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8836D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF AT AN ALTITUDE ESTIMATED AS 200-300' AGL. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE AND MINOR INJURIES TO ITS OCCUPANTS. A POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF VISIBLE SEDIMENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY ONCE FRESH FUEL WAS ADDED.
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
- Flight time: 2,551 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1988; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.