Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Ceres, California, February 11, 1995
On February 11, 1995 at about 3:54 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N560LM, was destroyed in an accident near Ceres, California (Harry Sham Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot inadvertently becoming lost/disoriented during a missed approach, his failure to follow the proper missed approach procedure, and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft due to spatial disorientation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 1995 · about 3:54 am local time
- Place
- Ceres, California · Harry Sham Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N560LM · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8229002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. A GROUND WITNESS BRIEFLY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE PROCEEDING IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE ON A FLIGHT PATH NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MISSED APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY ENTERED INTO A 90-DEGREE BANKING TURN AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A NEAR-VERTICAL DESCENT ATTITUDE MOMENTS LATER. THE PILOT'S LAST COMMUNICATIONS TO THE LOCAL CONTROLLER WERE UNINTELLIGIBLE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE MAIN LANDING GEARS WERE IN TRANSIT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY AIRPLANE OR ENGINE PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Phoenix AZ
- Destination: MOD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 5,911 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Observation at 3:52 am from MOD, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.