Piper PA-34-200T accident near Avalon, California, March 11, 1993
On March 11, 1993 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N1808H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avalon, California (Catalina airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH, EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPORT IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1993 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Avalon, California · Catalina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N1808H · no longer on the register · serial 34-7770151
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE MOUNTAIN TOP AIRPORT. HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND ON THE INITIAL LANDING APPROACH. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, HE LANDED LONG AND FAST. THE PILOT APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM GOING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND DOWN THE EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE GROUND LOOP.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 743 hours in all; 21 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,081 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: South Bay Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,240 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.