Piper PA-24-180 accident near Kelso, California, October 31, 1992
On October 31, 1992 at about 3:25 am local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N7902P, was destroyed in an accident near Kelso, 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; HIS INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION; AND HIS INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TURBULENCE, RAIN AND LOW CLOUDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1992 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Kelso, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7902P · no longer on the register · serial 3132
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-24-180 COLLIDED WITH LEVEL DESERT TERRAIN. RESIDENTS OF A NEARBY TOWN REPORTED SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE EVENING OF ACCIDENT. THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED A 15 MINUTE ELECTRONIC WEATHER BRIEFING FROM DUAT SERVICES. THE BRIEFING INCLUDED FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION, ICING, AND TURBULENCE ALONG THE REQUESTED FLIGHT ROUTING. AIRMETS HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS, MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION AND TURBULENCE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING DOWN AND NOSE LEVEL ATTITUDE. PAPER FROM THE PILOT'S DUAT WEATHER BRIEFING WAS FOUND ON THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PAPER WAS BURNED IN THE AREA WHERE IT WAS TOUCHING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND WRINKLED FROM BEING WET.
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
- Flight time: 1,303 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,651 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1991; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OXR Oxnard CA
- Destination: Washington OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°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.