Piper PA-31-350 and Beech C-99 accident near Ontario, California, October 25, 1989
On October 25, 1989 at about 1:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-31-350 (N4098A) and Beech C-99 (N108SX), were involved in the same accident near Ontario, California (Ontario airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF BRAKES BY THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-31.
IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-31.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1989 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, California · Ontario · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N4098A · registry record · serial 318152200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech C-99 · all C-99s on the register
- Registration
- N108SX · registry record · serial U184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-31-350 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH COMPANY AIRCRAFT WERE HOLDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, WITH THE ENGINES RUNNING, AWAITING THEIR SEPERATE TAKEOFF CLEARANCES. BEECH C-99, N108SX, WAS AHEAD OF PIPER PA-31-350, N4098A. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-31-350 STATED THAT HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HIS AIRCRAFT ROLLED FORWARD, STRIKING THE EMPENNAGE OF THE BEECH C-99.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech C-99 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH COMPANY AIRCRAFT WERE HOLDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, WITH THE ENGINES RUNNING, AWAITING THEIR SEPERATE TAKEOFF CLEARANCES. BEECH C-99, N1088X, WAS AHEAD OF PIPER PA-31-350, N4098A. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-31-350 STATED THAT HIS FOOD SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HIS AIRCRAFT ROLLED FORWARD, STRIKING THE EMPENNAGE OF THE BEECH C-99.
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 for the Piper PA-31-350 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,780 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- 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: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ONT at 1:55 pm
- Destination: IYK Inyokern CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech C-99 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,880 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-36 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ameriflight, INC
The flight
- Departed from: ONT at 1:55 pm
- Destination: OXR Oxnard CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N4098A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.