Piper PA32R accident near San Diego, California, August 27, 1991
On August 27, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA32R, registered N9222K, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN ENGINE DISCREPANCY THAT WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER DUE TO RESTRICTION TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9222K · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7680197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS FERRYING THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT A PERMIT TO ANOTHER AIRFIELD TO FIX A KNOWN ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM DISCREPANCY. A MAINTENANCE PERSON ADVISED THE PILOT BEFOREHAND THAT THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD NOT BE FLOWN WITH THE PROBLEM. THE AIRCRAFT SERVICE MANUAL INDICATES LOW ENGINE POWER COULD BE CAUSED BY A RESTRICTION IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE MUFFLER WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE NUMBER 6 CYLINDER STACK ATTACH POINT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 9, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Barron Thomas Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.