Piper PA-28-235 accident near Redlands, California, October 10, 1990
On October 10, 1990, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8876W, was destroyed in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK OF AN UNDETERMINED ORIGIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1990
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8876W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10433
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THE REAR SEAT PAX OBSERVED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. THEN ALL ENGINE POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST, AND THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE VISIBILITY INSIDE THE AIRPLANE BECAME NEARLY ZERO, AND THE AIRPLANE CRASH-LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. WITHIN SECONDS IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FIRE. NUMEROUS TOOLS, A MAGNETO HARNESS KIT, BRAKE ANVIL, AND TWO SMALL SECTIONS OF HOSES WERE FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE, AS WELL AS AN ENGINE MAINTENANCE/REPAIR TEXT BOOK. ONE OF THE HOSES WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS A FUEL LINE HOSE.
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: 5,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HHR Hawthorne CA at 11:34 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from SBD, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.