Piper PA-60-700P accident near Coalinga, California, June 19, 1992
On June 19, 1992 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-60-700P, registered N626NP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND MISJUDGING THE AIRCRAFT'S DISTANCE FROM THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION AND THE NOSE AND MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING DUE TO OVERLOAD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1992 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-60-700P · all PA-60-700Ps on the register
- Registration
- N626NP · registry record · serial 608423014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT WITH RUNWAY 32 FOR LANDING. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A 15 KNOT WIND BLOWING FROM 270 DEGREES AND THAT HE ENTERED A LEFT CRAB AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED FOR THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE RUNWAY THE PILOT SAID HE ENTERED A SLIP. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT AND THE LEFT LANDING GEAR COLLIDED WITH THE APPROACH EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HEARD A MUFFLED BANG AND A POP NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD FLOPPING NOISE FROM THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AS THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED DOWN THE RUNWAY. AT APPROXIMATELY MIDFIELD THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR. THE INDICATOR WAS LOCATED ABOUT 100 FEET LEFT OF RUNWAY 32. THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE AIRCRAFT'S GROUND SLIDE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,900 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,226 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 1992; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,356 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-OU2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA
- Destination: 308
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.