Piper PA-38-112 accident near Fresno, California, August 14, 1989
On August 14, 1989 at about 8:07 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2469F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno-Chandler Downtown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE RUNWAY.
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 8:07 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno-Chandler Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2469F · no longer on the register · serial 3879A0465
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-38 WAS PRACTICING FOR A FORCED LANDING DURING THE TAKEOFF PHASE OF FLIGHT. HE SAID HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRSPEED WAS LOW AT THE TIME AND HE LOWERED THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE TO INCREASE AIRSPEED. HE SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND IT CRASHED ON THE RUNWAY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 76 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming PA-38-112 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Eagle Enterprises, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FCH at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30L, 3,202 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:50 pm from FAT, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.