Piper PA-28-140 accident near Butte Meadows, California, August 14, 1989
On August 14, 1989 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N3795K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butte Meadows, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING TO ATTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE HIGH TERRAIN AND HIGH DENSITY ATTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1989 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Butte Meadows, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N3795K · no longer on the register · serial 28-23732
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE CLIMBING TO 9,000 FT, HE CLEARED A MOUNTAIN PEAK, BUT THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AS IF IN A DOWNDRAFT. HIT TREES AT ABOUT 4,500 FT ELEVATION. DENSITY ALT ABOUT 7000 FEET.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1989; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA at 5:40 pm
- Destination: 059 Cedarville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.