Piper PA-38-112 accident near Hollister, California, July 9, 1989
On July 9, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N23916, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hollister, California (Frazier Lake Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM STRIKING THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hollister, California · Frazier Lake Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N23916 · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A1065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE AT 3500 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE STUDENT PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BUT WHEN HE TURNED FINAL HE WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND INTENDED TO MAKE ANOTHER 360 DEGREE PRIOR TO LANDING. AS SOON AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE BANK, IT STALLED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER BY APPLYING FULL POWER BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RETURN TO LEVEL FLIGHT PRIOR TO STRIKING THE GROUND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,100 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 8,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,048 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1989; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Hollister CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,500 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.