Piper PA-22-20 accident near Oakdale, California, June 14, 1993
On June 14, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-20, registered N9618D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oakdale, California (Oakdale Donnely Field). 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 failure of the flying pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the takeoff ground roll. A factor in the accident was the flying pilot's lack of recent total flight time and recent experience in conventional landing gear equipped aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oakdale, California · Oakdale Donnely Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-20 · all PA-22-20s on the register
- Registration
- N9618D · registry record · serial 6529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEFT SEAT PILOT SAID HE DID NOT HAVE A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OR A CURRENT BFR AND ASKED THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT TO FLY WITH HIM AROUND THE PATTERN TO GET THE FEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH HE HAD JUST PURCHASED FROM HIM. THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT STATED HE TOLD THE NEW OWNER THAT HE WAS NOT CURRENT IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT SEAT PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL HE GLANCED AT THE INSTRUMENTS AND WHEN HE LOOKED UP AGAIN THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL ENCOUNTERED A LARGE 'RAIN WASH HOLE' AT THE LEFT PAVEMENT EDGE, WHICH SHEARED OFF THE LANDING GEAR AND DAMAGED THE LEFT WING. THE LEFT SEAT PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD NOT FLOWN TAIL DRAGGER AIRCRAFT IN 'SOME TIME.' THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE FIRST TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AS THE TAIL LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY, SHEARING OFF THE LANDING GEAR AND BENDING A WING.
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: 2,775 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,712 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.