Piper PA-28-140 accident near Clarksburg, California, July 21, 1990
On July 21, 1990 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1570J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksburg, California (Clarksburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE'S MUFFLER DURING INITIAL CLIMB.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1990 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksburg, California · Clarksburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1570J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER-OPERATOR OF A 22-YEAR OLD AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM A 2100-FOOT-LONG TURF AIRSTRIP. HE HAD USED 25 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND HAD ANTICIPATED BEING AIRBORNE BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE GAINED ABOUT 20 FEET OF ALTITUDE, LOST ENGINE POWER AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM REVEALED THE MUFFLER WAS DETERIORATED. ITS INNER TUBE (CORE) HAD DISLODGED AND WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE ENGINE'S EXHAUST. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 236 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,718 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1990; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:05 am
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.