Piper PA-28-161 accident near El Monte, California, June 16, 1992
On June 16, 1992 at about 6:01 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9279Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Monte, California (El Monte airport). It was an instructional 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1992 · about 6:01 pm local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · El Monte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9279Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-8616039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE THIRD LANDING THE STUDENT PILOT PLANNED TO EXECUTE A FULL STOP LANDING. TOWER PERSONNEL REPORTED THE AIRPLANE SKIPPED ON TOUCH DOWN AND THEN BEGAN TO ROLL-OUT. MOMENTS LATER THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND APPLIED HARD, UNEVEN RIGHT BRAKING AND THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE THAT PARALLELS THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKES AND TIRES DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING LOCKED BRAKE CONDITION. THE RUDDER TRIM WAS OFFSET TO THE RIGHT.
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: student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,499 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 11, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pilot'S Co-Op Supplies
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.