Piper PA-28R-201T accident near La Verne, California, May 2, 1994
On May 2, 1994 at about 4:19 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N47628, was destroyed in an accident near La Verne, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A FLIGHT ROUTE AND EN ROUTE DESCENT ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1994 · about 4:19 am local time
- Place
- La Verne, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N47628 · no longer on the register · serial 7704311
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ASKED THE FSS FOR ONLY THE CURRENT AND FORECAST DESTINATION WEATHER. A NOTAM REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE PILOT. EN ROUTE THE PILOT CONTACTED ATC FOR VFR ADVISORIES THROUGH THE ARSA TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE WAS THEN ADVISED IT WAS CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PILOT REPORTED HE WOULD RETURN TO CLAREMONT. RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE REVERSED COURSE, BEGAN A CLIMB FROM 6,500 TO 7,000 FT, THEN BEGAN A DESCENT WHICH CONTINUED TO IMPACT IN THE FOOTHILLS IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES BASIN. THE LAST RECORDED MODE C ALTITUDE WAS 3,400 FT. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS AT 2,600 FT. TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THERAPEUTIC LEVELS OF PSEUDOEPHEDRINE (0.64 MG/L BLOOD, 0.15 MG/L LIVER), PROMETHAZINE (3.4 MG/KG LIVER), AND BROMPHENIRAMINE (3.0 MG/KG LIVER). PROMETHAZINE IS PROHIBITED FOR USE BY PILOTS WHILE FLYING. THE PILOT HAD A COLD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 2,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,994 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1993; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCB Claremont CA at 4:00 am
- Destination: WHP Pacoima CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 am from POC, 5 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.