Piper PA-24 accident near Rialto, California, November 27, 1992
On November 27, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24, registered N6115P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rialto, California (Rialto Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. CONRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE INADVERTENT STALL, THE PRECEDING SAND/DUST STORM, THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY LOW COMPRESSION DUE TO SAND IN THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rialto, California · Rialto Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N6115P · registry record · serial 24 1215
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-24 LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND LANDED HARD. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED SAND HAD ENTERED THE CYLINDERS PREVENTING THE VALVES AND RINGS TO SEAT PROPERLY. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR THIRTY DAYS. DURING THE THIRTY DAY PERIOD THE AIRPLANE WAS PARKED INTO THE WIND WITHOUT THE COWLING BEING COVERED OR THE INLETS BEING PLUGGED. HIGH WINDS AND BLOWING SAND WERE NOTED ON TWO OCCASIONS DURING THE PERIOD. THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 797 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 730 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,466 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from SBD, 9 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N6115P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.