Piper PA-28-181 accident near Fresno, California, July 31, 1993
On July 31, 1993 at about 6:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N3053N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Air Terminal airport). 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE FLARE AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE RESULTING BOUNCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE AND THE NIGHT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1993 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N3053N · registry record · serial 28-7990288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT DURING A BRIGHT NIGHT UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS FOR A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, AND THE NOSE GEAR WAS DAMAGED DURING THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 217 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Enterprises, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PDX Portland OR at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 7,206 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:37 am from FAT, 1 miles away
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.