Piper PA-28 accident near Pacoima, California, June 22, 1991
On June 22, 1991 at about 3:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N8745N, was destroyed in an accident near Pacoima, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1991 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Pacoima, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N8745N · no longer on the register · serial 2825561
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS DEPARTED THE AIRPORT IN THEIR AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 120 POUNDS OVER THE CERTIFICATED MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. ABOUT 6 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT ABOUT 4,200 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. ON SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ITS ENGINE REVEALED NO PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE WAS CALCULATED BY AN FAA OPERATIONS INSPECTOR. HE DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEPART THE AIRPORT; FLY DIRECTLY TO THE ACCIDENT LOCATION; AND CLEAR THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ONE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE, BUT THAT THE AIRCRAFT JUST COULD NOT CLEAR THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE FAILED.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Whiteman CA at 3:14 am
- Destination: P06 Bullhead AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.