Piper PA-28-151 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, July 22, 1995
On July 22, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N41521, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to lower the flaps to the correct short field takeoff setting as specified in the aircraft's Pilot Operating Handbook.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N41521 · registry record · serial 28-74151135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A SHORT/SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF FROM A PASTURE, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT GET AIRBORNE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE PILOT DID NOT EXTEND THE FLAPS FOR THE TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE AIRPLANE, THE FLAPS SHOULD BE EXTENDED 25 DEGREES FOR OBSTACLE CLEARANCE SHORT FIELD AND SOFT FIELD TAKEOFFS.
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
- Flight time: 151 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,731 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1995; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SBP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from SBP, 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.