Piper PA28-140 accident near Chiriaco Summit, California, October 27, 1991
On October 27, 1991 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N3771K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chiriaco Summit, California (Chiriaco Summit airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DELAYED ACTIONS OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND IN SELECTING A GO-AROUND ND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE DRIFTING OFF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE AND COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1991 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chiriaco Summit, California · Chiriaco Summit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N3771K · registry record · serial 28 23724
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA 28-140 COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER A LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 24. THERE WAS A SLIGHT CROSSWIND DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WIND CONDITIONS TO BE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH AND LANDING FLARE THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE WEATHER VANED INTO THE WIND. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO-AROUND AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LET SHOULDER OF THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED. THE AIRPLAANE ROLLED OUT IN SANDY TERRAIN COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR AND DAMAGING THE WINGS. THE PILOT INDICATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FALURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 77 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,361 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 6, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 6:14 pm
- Destination: L77 Chiriaco Summit CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from TRM, 22 miles away
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.