Piper PA-28-180 accident near Corona, California, July 30, 1989
On July 30, 1989 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7341W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTINUED BUILDUP OF CARBURETOR ICE DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1989 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7341W · no longer on the register · serial PA28-1212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SVRL YEARS AT AN ARPT THAT WAS BEING CLOSED. ITS LAST ANNUAL INSPN WAS IN NOV 1986. BEFORE FERRYING THE ACFT TO A NEW LCTN, THE PLT DRAINED THE FUEL TANKS, PUMPED FUEL THRU THE LINES TO THE GASCOLATOR & SVCD IT WITH 22 GAL OF FRESH FUEL, BUT DID NOT OBTAIN A FERRY PERMIT. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER ABOUT 20 MIN OF FLT, THE ACFT ENCTRD TURBULENCE. HE REDUCED POWER TO 1800 RPM TO SLOW THE ACFT & BEGAN A DSCNT. WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED AGAIN, THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT SAID HE TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP, SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, NOTED THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS GOOD & CHECKED THE MAGNETOS (BUT HE DID NOT INDICATE THAT HE HAD TURNED ON THE CARB HEAT). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT HIT TREES DRG AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PLT RPRTD THAT FUEL WAS STILL REMAINING IN THE ACFT & NO WATER OR CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 75 & 52 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO CARB ICING CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARB ICE.
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; 640 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L16 Huntington Bch CA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: L66 Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.