Piper PA-38-112 accident near Joshua Tree, California, January 20, 1995
On January 20, 1995 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N4279E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Joshua Tree, California (Hi Desert airport). It was an instructional 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
the operator's inadequate annual inspection by failing to find that the flight control's horizontal section of the 'T' bar was rubbing against the vacuum hoses behind the instrument panel. The jammed 'T' bar and the rough terrain were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1995 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Joshua Tree, California · Hi Desert · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N4279E · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RAISE THE ELEVATORS DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, BUT THE REMAINING RUNWAY WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RUNWAY AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT ENTERED THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE HORIZONTAL 'T' BAR JAMMED AGAINST THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR HOSES. THIS JAMMING INHIBITED REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL WHEEL. THE VACUUM HOSES AND THE AVIONICS INSTALLATION BOX BRACKETS EXHIBITED NUMEROUS RUBBING AND CHAFING SIGNATURES. A 100-HOUR/ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE ACCRUED 99 HOURS SINCE THE INSPECTION.
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: 116 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,547 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1994; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,493 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.