Piper PA-38-112 accident near Paso Robles, California, October 7, 1989
On October 7, 1989 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2515T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paso Robles, California (Paso Robles airport). It was an instructional 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
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSS WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1989 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Paso Robles, California · Paso Robles
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2515T · registry record · serial 38-78A0820
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 44-HR STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO OBSERVE & UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT'S 3 WINDSOCKS & WIND TEE WERE INDICATING THAT RWY 13 WAS FAVORABLE FOR LANDING. THE PILOT LANDED ON RWY 31, EXPERIENCED A RT QUARTERING TAILWIND, DRIFTED OFF THE LT SIDE OF THE RWY & NOSED OVER IN A PLOWED FIELD.
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: student
- Flight time: 44 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: C&K Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: PRB Paso Robles CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 4,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PRB
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.