Piper PA-28-140 accident near Lost Hills, California, December 3, 1992
On December 3, 1992 at about 2:14 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5405S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lost Hills, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, POOR FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND DELAY IN EFFECTING ANY REMEDIAL ACTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED AND THE DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 1992 · about 2:14 am local time
- Place
- Lost Hills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5405S · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH 10 GALLONS OF FUEL TOWARD A MOUNTAINOUS AREA DURING A DARK NIGHT. WHILE ENROUTE THE PILOT BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTED. HE CONTACTED THE TRACON AND REPORTED A LOW FUEL STATE. THE CONTROLLER VECTORED THE FLIGHT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE PILOT COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE AIRPORT OR TURN ON THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WHILE CIRCLING OVER THE AIRPORT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT DESCENDED TOWARD THE AIRPORT. DURING THE DESCENT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SOME POWER LINES. THERE WAS NO POST IMPACT FIRE ALTHOUGH THE TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED BURNS ON THEIR ARMS FROM THE SEVERED POWER LINES. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS ACTIVATED NORMALLY BY CLICKING THE MICROPHONE USING THE COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY AS INDICATED IN THE AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY.
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: 450 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 010 Dinuba CA
- Destination: L52 Oceano CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:23 am from BFL, 25 miles away
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.