Piper PA-32-300 accident near Coalinga, California, June 29, 1992
On June 29, 1992 at about 3:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4065R, 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; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH DURING THE NIGHT VFR APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING UNDERSHOOT AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE RAISED ASPHALT LIP OF THE RUNWAY EDGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1992 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4065R · registry record · serial 32-40373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT LANDED 130 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A LEVEL DIRT OVERRUN AREA. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE RAISED LIP OF THE RUNWAY ASPHALT, WHICH MEASURED SIX INCHES ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE DIRT OVERRUN AREA, DAMAGING THE LANDING GEAR ATTACH POINTS AND THE INTERNAL WING STRUCTURE. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRPORT AND RUNWAY LIGHTING AND FOUND NO DEFICIENCIES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO 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: 200 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,089 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1992; 42 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: OXR Oxnard CA at 2:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 40 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 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.