Piper PA-28-181 accident near Big Bear, California, February 19, 1990
On February 19, 1990 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2134E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Bear, California (Big Bear airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT WING TIP AND THE SNOW BANK. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOW BERMS ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1990 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Big Bear, California · Big Bear · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2134E · registry record · serial 28-7990180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A PIPER PA-28 COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BERM AFTER LANDING. RUNWAY 25 IS 5,800 FEET AND 75 FEET WIDE. THE RUNWAY WAS CLEAR OF SNOW AND HAD FOUR TO FIVE FOOT SNOW BERMS ALONGSIDE. THE PILOT DID NOT STAY CLEAR OF THE SNOW BANK AND COLLIDED WITH IT DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED OR FOUND. WINDS WERE 250 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L67 Rialto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.