Piper PA28-140 accident near Rosemead, California, October 13, 1992
On October 13, 1992 at about 1:11 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N3940F, was destroyed in an accident near Rosemead, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE PREVAILING LOW CEILING AND FOG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 1992 · about 1:11 pm local time
- Place
- Rosemead, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N3940F · no longer on the register · serial 28762570
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITH THE PREVAILING WEATHER TO BE LESS THAN VFR IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE. DENSE FOG SURROUNDED THE AREA. GROUND WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLE THE RESIDENTIAL AREA SEVERAL TIMES. ONE GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT PLUMMET FROM THE FOG SHROUDED AREA AND CRASH INTO THE ROOF OF A RESIDENCE. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE FOG BEGAN AT ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF A TELEPHONE POLE. SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATORS DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 2,103 hours in all; 9 in the last 90 days; 2,066 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 1:06 pm
- Destination: L15 Henderson NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.