Piper PA-38-112 accident near Kettleman City, California, October 23, 1994
On October 23, 1994 at about 6:58 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2326G, was destroyed in an accident near Kettleman City, 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
FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF QUALIFICATION/INSTRUCTOR ENDORSEMENT FOR A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AT NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 1994 · about 6:58 am local time
- Place
- Kettleman City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2326G · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0498
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT AND CRASHED ON A 5-DEGREE DOWN-SLOPING OPEN FIELD. IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN ESTIMATED 45 TO 60 DEGREE, RIGHT BANK, DESCENDING TURN. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND. THE AIRPLANE'S LAST RECORDED ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS IN OCTOBER OF 1991. THE STUDENT PILOT'S CERTIFICATE HAD NOT BEEN ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT. AN ACQUAINTANCE AND A FAMILY MEMBER REPORTED THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A STROKE ABOUT 4 YEARS EARLIER; HOWEVER, THE PILOT DID NOT NOTE THIS DURING APPLICATION FOR A THIRD-CLASS AVIATION MEDICAL/STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE. A PATHOLOGIST REPORTED THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED 'ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HYPERTENSIVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE WITH LEFT MIDDLE CEREBRAL SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE' AND THAT THIS MAY HAVE IMPAIRED HIS ABILITY TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE. THREE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WERE FOUND IN THE PILOT'S EFFECTS. ONE OF THESE CONTAINED A CAUTION, 'MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS;' HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT VERIFY RECENT USE OF DRUG(S); A TOXICOLOGY TEST FOR ETHANOL WAS NEGATIVE.
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: student
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,884 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1991; 116 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: CPM Compton CA
- Destination: FCH Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 am from PRB, 35 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.