Piper PA-18-125 accident near Herald, California, December 31, 1992
On December 31, 1992, a Piper PA-18-125, registered N3872C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Herald, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE AND HIS FAILURE TO TAKE TIMELY REMEDIAL ACTION TO CORRECT A HIGH SINK RATE PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 1992
- Place
- Herald, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-125 · all PA-18-125s on the register
- Registration
- N3872C · registry record · serial 18-763
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOLD FAA INSPECTORS THAT HE FLEW TO THE ACCIDENT SITE TO VISIT SOME FRIENDS WHO WERE ON A HUNTING TRIP. HE DECIDED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD WHERE HIS FRIENDS WERE LOCATED. ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, BREAKING BOTH LEGS AND HIS HIP. THE EXAMINING FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR SOLO PRIVILEGES.
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: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O20 Lodi CA
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.