Piper PA32-300 accident near Corona, California, July 17, 1991
On July 17, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA32-300, registered N5233S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE THE AIRCRAFT'S STALL SPEED AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, MAGNETO AND ACCESSORY DRIVE GEAR, THE ROUGH TERRAIN CONDITIONS OVER WHICH THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMANDS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-300 · all PA32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N5233S · no longer on the register · serial 32-40929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE FAILED DURING A VISUAL APPROACH FOR LANDING THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT HE NEGLECTED TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE THE AIRCRAFT'S STALL SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN ROUGH TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE POWER PLANT AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT MAGNETO IMPULSE COUPLING FLYWEIGHTS STRUCK THE STOP PINS. THE FLYWEIGHT-STOP PIN IMPACT SEIZED THE MAGNETO AND SHEARED THE ACCESSORY DRIVE GEAR ALIGNMENT DOWEL. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE UNCOUPLING THE ACCESSORY DRIVE TRAIN AND 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 298 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,138 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 1990; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palms Springs CA at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from RAL, 55 miles away
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.