Piper PA-38-112 accident near Camarillo, California, June 21, 1993
On June 21, 1993 at about 2:58 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9539T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camarillo, 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION PLANNING, THE INADEQUATE EN ROUTE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO STOP EN ROUTE FOR FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1993 · about 2:58 am local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9539T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED TO CAPACITY JUST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE PLANNED 4 HR FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THE FLIGHT MANUAL FOR THE AIRCRAFT LISTED A 5 HR RANGE ON THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT SHE PLANNED HER FLIGHT TIME AT 4 HRS. THE PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT 3 HRS AND 50 MIN INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT NOTED THAT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF POINT MUGU RADAR APPROACH CONTROL SHE WAS ABLE TO DESCEND BELOW THE BROKEN CLOUD LAYER AND LAND ON A ROAD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A CULVERT DURING THE ROLL OUT. A REVIEW OF THE ATC TAPES AT THE REDDING, CALIFORNIA, FAA ATCT REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED A TAKEOFF CLEARANCE AT 1535 HOURS. THE LAST RADIO CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECORDED BY THE ATC FACILITY AT POINT MUGU NAVAL AIR STATION AT 1958 HOURS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. AFTER RETRIEVAL FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE EXAMINED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES FOUND.
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: 363 hours in all; 292 in this make and model; 191 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 363 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,828 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1993; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDD Redding CA at 10:35 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.