Piper PA-28-181 accident near Columbia, California, July 6, 1993
On July 6, 1993 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N3837N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, California (Columbia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1993 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, California · Columbia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N3837N · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot topped off both fuel tanks prior to departure and arrived at the destination in three hours, with a calculated two hours of fuel remaining. The pilot was high on final approach and chose to go-around. He applied full power, established a positive rate of climb and retracted the flaps. While still on the upwind, the engine sputtered, and, about one to two seconds later, the engine sputtered again and quit. The pilot attempted to land on a road after a descending left turn and collided with telephone wires. Both fuel tanks were damaged in the impact sequence and all fuel was lost. Examination of the aircraft and engine revealed no discrepancies. The engine was successfully test run after minor installation repairs. Temperature and dew point information were obtained from three nearby locations, and, according to an icing probability chart, there was a possibility of light carburetor icing in glide conditions.
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: 86 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,657 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1993; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Desert Pacific
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 4,670 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from SCK, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.