Piper PA-38-112 accident near Long Beach, California, August 20, 1989
On August 20, 1989 at about 8:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2344N, was destroyed in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF WHICH LED TO AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE EXCESSIVE WEIGHT IN THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1989 · about 8:26 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2344N · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0796
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER BEGAN TAKING OFF FROM RWY 25L WHICH WAS 150 FEET WIDE BY 5420 FEET LONG. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO INITIALLY CLIMB OUT WITH A STEEP NOSE HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE AND AT A SLOW AIRSPEED. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET AGL, ITS RIGHT WING AND NOSE SUDDENLY LOWERED, AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED UNTIL COLLIDING WITH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT'S RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, THE AIRCRAFT'S MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT WAS EXCEEDED BY ABOUT 83 POUNDS.
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: 850 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,029 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 26, 1989; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Aztec Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 5,420 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:40 pm from LGB
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.