Piper PA-28-161 accident near Hayward, California, November 19, 1989
On November 19, 1989 at about 4:56 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4359C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward Air Terminal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA CONTRIBUTED TO THE DAMAGE AND INJURIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1989 · about 4:56 am local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4359C · registry record · serial 28-8416088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE ACFT WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND. THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED ABOUT 3/4 MI FROM THE ARPT. HAVING INSUFFICIENT ALT TO GLIDE TO THE RWY, THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A PARKING LOT. WHILE LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE & WAS DAMAGED. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE; BOTH RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. NO PRE-ACDNT ANOMALIES OF THE ACFT WERE FOUND.
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: 415 hours in all; 395 in this make and model; 126 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 376 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1989; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3O8 Coalinga CA at 3:40 am
- Destination: HWD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,107 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:02 am from HWD
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.
Other NTSB records under N4359C 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.