Piper PA-31P accident near Oceanside, California, December 14, 1992
On December 14, 1992 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-31P, registered N55UF, was destroyed in an accident near Oceanside, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH THE OCEAN DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON (S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1992 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Oceanside, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P · all PA-31Ps on the register
- Registration
- N55UF · no longer on the register · serial 31P-7400182
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER, HIS SON, DEPARTED FROM A CONTROLLED AIRPORT AT 1436 HOURS. HE CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO ABOUT 5,200 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE CONTROL TOWER DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE PILOT IN A PROGRESSIVE CLIMB TO ABOUT 5,200 FEET. AFTER MAINTAINING THAT ALTITUDE FOR OVER TWO MINUTES, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE OCEAN ABOUT ONE MILE OFFSHORE. THE ENGINES AND PROPELLERS WERE RECOVERED AND EXAMINED. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE EXISTING DISCREPANCIES. THE PROPELLERS HAD DEEP LEADING EDGE GOUGES, 'S' TWISTS, AND ONE BROKEN BLADE. NO PRE EXISTING DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S LOGBOOKS AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY REASON FOR THE AIRPLANE'S RAPID DESCENT AND ITS IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE OCEAN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,790 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ San Diego CA at 10:36 pm
- Destination: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.