Piper PA-12 accident near Riverside, California, August 19, 1994
On August 19, 1994 at about 2:07 am local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3415M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riverside, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a total 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
- August 19, 1994 · about 2:07 am local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3415M · no longer on the register · serial 12-2265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A STREET AND COLLIDED WITH TWO AUTOMOBILES. A RESPONDING POLICE OFFICER REPORTED OBSERVING FUEL IN THE STREET NEAR THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE WERE EXAMINED BY AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPORTED FINDING EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE APPEARED CAPABLE OF PRODUCING POWER.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 3,040 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1993; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HII Lake Havasu AZ
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:07 am from RAL, 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.
Other NTSB records under N3415M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.